14 Houses In Kukar Affected By Illegal Ex-Mining Land Land Land Land Land Land Lands, 4 People Injured

SAMARINDA - A total of 14 houses in Purwajaya Village, Loa Janan District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, were reportedly affected by landslides due to land used for illegal mining that was not properly reproduced.

Head of the East Kalimantan Energy and Mineral Resources Agency (ESDM) Bambang Arwanto revealed that the incident resulted in four residents being injured.

"There were four injured victims, two of whom were seriously injured and have been rushed to the hospital, while the other two suffered minor injuries," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 13.

Bambang explained that there were four worst landslide points, one of which was landslide material entering the river. This condition causes blockage and overflowing river water, which then floods the surrounding residential areas.

"The main priority at this time is river normalization. We are working with the Community Development and Empowerment Forum (PPM) from local companies so that they can move with residents," he said.

The coordination meeting regarding this improvement step will be held on Wednesday (14/5).

Bambang said that one of the triggers for landslides on the banks of the Loa Janan area was strongly suspected to be due to illegal mining activities that had operated in the area, precisely in the PT MSA area from 1999 to 2000.

The unplanned land clearing at that time, he said, caused the soil condition to become unstable.

"The heavy rain that lasted for seven hours triggered the movement of landslide material into the river, clog the flow of water, and caused flooding," he explained.

Bambang emphasized that this incident was not directly related to mining activities that were currently active, considering that the illegal mine had been abandoned about five to six years ago.

However, the bad impact of activities without adequate reclamation is still being felt today.