Over twelve people have died and 48 people are missing after heavy rainfall caused a landslide on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The landslide occurred at an illegal gold mine.
About 100 people were digging for gold on Sunday in the Gorontalo province when tons of mud fell down the surrounding hills, according to the rescue authorities.
Over 40 people managed to escape the landslide, some were pulled up by rescue workers. 12 people have been confirmed dead, including three women and a four-year-old child.
The rescue efforts were hindered by heavy rain that had blocked roads covered with thick mud and debris.
The rain also broke a dam and caused flooding of up to three meters. Nearly 300 houses were affected by the flooding and more than 1,000 people had to flee.
Unlicensed mines are common in Indonesia, where abandoned sites attract locals to hunt for leftover gold ore without proper safety equipment.
Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season between November and April, but July is usually a dry period and heavy rainfall is rare.
