Dozens Of Illegal Gold Miners In Parigi Moutong Are Buried. SAR: Hopefully All In Good Condition

The evacuation process of miners buried by landslides at the illegal mining site in Burangan Village, Ampibabo District, Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA / HO / Aslan Laeho / Antara)

JAKARTA - The Palu Search and Rescue SAR Office stated that dozens of people from various SAR elements were involved in the search for victims buried by landslides at the illegal gold mining location in Buranga Village, Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi.

"At the location of the landslide, our team from the Parigi SAR Post and the personnel of the SAR Office of Palu and other SAR elements gathered in the joint team including the TNI/Police", said a public relations officer for the SAR Search and Rescue Office of Palu Fatmawati.

He said that around 36 personnel from various units were involved in the SAR operation, eight of which were personnel from the Palu SAR Office, four personnel from the Parigi SAR Post, then eight personnel from the Ampibabo Police, Babinsa Buranga Village, two personnel, Tagana Parigi Moutong, five personnel including nine potential people. SAR is assisted by the community around the mine site.

Basarnas personnel were deployed to the mine site in Buranga Village, Ampibabo District on Wednesday, February 24, at 21:20 WITA after receiving a community report.

During the SAR operation, Basarnas Palu brought two units of personnel transport vehicles, extraction equipment, medical equipment, evacuation equipment, COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and other supporting tools.

"The SAR operation was assisted by two units of heavy excavator types, and the evacuation process continued until 04.00 WITA in the morning", said Fatmawati.

Temporary data compiled by Basarnas Palu, as many as 26 victims in a landslide incident that occurred at the mine site without a permit in Buranga Village, Ampibabo District, reported 15 survivors, three people were injured, and three were declared dead and five others are still in the search process.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at around 6:00 p.m. local time, which is approximately 52 kilometers from Parigi City, the capital of Parigi Moutong Regency.

"We hope that the victims buried in the landslide can be evacuated immediately. Hopefully, all are in good condition and we receive the report, the SAR Team continues to carry out evacuation activities", Fatmawati said.