4 People Died Trapped In South Halmahera Illegal Gold Mining Hole

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

Four miners were declared dead at an illegal gold mine site in Kusubibi Village, West Bacan District, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku. The four victims were trapped in a hole during heavy rains.

West Bacan Police Chief Iptu Zulkifli Machmud said on Wednesday, August 7, nine miners namely Aji, Jems, PHO, Lukman, Jair Idris, Abjat Sarif, and Riski and Rais excavated gold material at the mine site.

They entered the hole to retrieve gold material with a depth of about 50-100 meters. It was raining heavily until the water entered the hole

"Seeing the swift water that entered the hole, Aldi, a hole stick keeper, told Suhardi that the water had flowed into the hole and then Suhardi immediately tried to enter the hole where the gold excavation site was to block the flowing water using wooden boards," said the police chief.

Five miners from Alut, Aji, Jens, PHO, and Lukman managed to get out of the location.

Meanwhile, four other miners, namely Jair Idris, Abjad, Sarif, Riski, and Rais, were unable to get out of the hole, due to the swift water that entered.

"Suhardi immediately came out of the hole to convey this information to other miners, in order to help suck water using machines, so that the four miners who were still in the hole could be saved," he said.