Gold mine collapses in W. Sumatra, 11 missing

A gold mine in Lubuk Ulang Aling village, Sangir Batang Hari subdistrict, in South Solok regency, West Sumatra, collapsed on Saturday and at least 11 traditional miners were missing after the accident, the Media Indonesia newspaper reported in its Monday edition.

The fate of the miners is still not known until Sunday evening.

Solok regency police chief Adj. Sr. Commr. Roem Taat has confirmed the accident and sent officers to check the location.

?In fact, there was a landslide at that location. My people are already there at the location. However, there is neither cell phone signal or handy talkie signal. So we have not received the report regarding how the accident happened and the total number of victims,? Roem told the Media Indonesia on Sunday in Padang.

Meanwhile, the regional representative from South Solok Abdul Rahman said several miners were trapped when a tunnel from the river bank collapsed. They were digging a hole in the mine at a depth of 10-15 meters. (*)