Overview

• A landslide caused by torrential rains on May 16 engulfed temporary shelters at a small-scale gold mine in the Arfak Mountains, West Papua province, Indonesia.
• Six miners have been confirmed dead, four injured, and 14 remain missing as of May 19, with rescue operations temporarily suspended due to heavy rains and damaged roads.
• Around 40 rescuers, including police and military personnel, were deployed but faced significant challenges due to steep terrain and 12-hour travel times to the remote site.
• Authorities plan to resume search efforts on May 20, weather permitting, as concerns grow over the fate of the missing miners.
• The incident highlights the dangers of unregulated small-scale mining in Indonesia, where similar disasters have claimed dozens of lives in recent years.