PIKIRAN RAKYAT - The landslide disaster occurred in a people's mining area in East Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa District, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province, on Sunday, July 7, 2024. Initial data stated that the number of victims was eight people, consisting of two people who died, two people were found safe, and four people are still being searched.
"Provisional data, the two people who died were a 40-year-old mother and her four-year-old child. While his father is still searching. They are residents of East Suwawa," said the Commander of the Alpa Basarnas Gorontalo Team, Salama.
Two victims who were declared safe in the disaster were injured, one of whom was seriously injured due to broken bones. Initial information received stated that the landslide event occurred on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at midnight, or approximately 23.45 WITA. At that time, some of the victims were resting and fast asleep in several camps or stalls at the mine site.
"For the time being, there have been several victims who have been successfully evacuated from the mine site to the main post, before being taken to the hospital," said Salama.
17 Gold Mine Workers Missing
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) deployed the full strength of a joint team of SAR officers to search for 17 gold mine workers who were still missing in a landslide in East Suwawa, Bone Bolango, Gorontalo. Director of Operations of Basarnas Brigadier General TNI Edy Prakoso said that 17 miners were part of a total of 33 victims of landslides in the people's gold mining area in East Suwawa.
The identities of the 17 people have been obtained by joint SAR officers. The majority of them are men and one woman and currently the whereabouts of the victims are still missing in search since yesterday night, Sunday, July 7, 2024.
Edy Prakoso confirmed that on the second day of the SAR operation, the number of joint officers deployed to the East Suwawa gold mine site totaled 206 people, along with two units of heavy equipment, one helicopter unit, and complete SAR equipment.
The team each consisted of 25 personnel from the Gorontalo SAR Office. The rest are assistance personnel from the Gorontalo Regional Police, Korem Battalion 173, Gorontalo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Nature Lovers Group, and so on.
Based on the latest report from the Main SAR Post on Monday, July 8, 2024, afternoon, the number of victims has increased from eight to 11 people who have died. Eight of them have been evacuated to Bhayangkara Gorontalo Hospital, then some are already at the funeral home, and 3 are still at the landslide site.
Then as many as five people survived in a state of minor and severe injuries such as fractures in the legs and spine, they have been rushed to a number of nearby hospitals for further medical treatment.