Landslide Tragedy Claims Lives of 10 Quarry Workers in Indonesia

Rescuers are dealing with the aftermath of a devastating landslide that struck a quarry mine in West Java, Indonesia, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 workers. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Friday near Cirebon, roughly 135 miles east of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. Six additional workers sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at local facilities.Local news outlet Kompas TV captured startling footage of the site, displaying excavators at work as officials combed through the debris in search of any survivors. However, by 5 p.m. on Friday, the commander of the local military district, Mukhammad Yusron, announced that search efforts would pause due to fading daylight and the heightened risk of further landslides, with plans to resume the following day.Bambang Tirto Mulyono, head of West Java's energy and mineral resources department, cited improper mining practices as the cause of the landslide. He explained that mining should be conducted from top to bottom rather than from the bottom up. Despite stern warnings to the mining company regarding safety compliance, it appears that protocols were not followed. The site has been secured by local police since February due to concerns over unsafe mining practices.Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to landslides during its rainy season, from October through April. Last month saw 10 fatalities from another landslide affecting vehicles on the main island of Java. Additionally, earlier this year, 25 people died in a separate landslide incident. The nation's geography, characterized by its 17,500 islands and a population of over 280 million, once featured expansive rainforests now largely cleared for agriculture and palm plantations. This deforestation, alongside illegal small-scale mining operations, exacerbates soil instability. In November, another landslide in an uncontrolled mining area on Sulawesi island resulted in 24 deaths.