Rescue efforts are ongoing at a quarry site in Cirebon, West Java, where a rock collapse on Friday has killed at least 17 people, with eight still missing and six others injured, according to Indonesia’s national rescue agency, Basarnas.
The death toll remains provisional as reported by victims’ families. The collapse occurred in an area deemed hazardous and lacking proper safety measures, said West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is investigating the cause and assessing the risk of further landslides. Geological officials pointed to the region’s unstable soil and excessive rainfall, along with unsafe mining techniques like undercutting and steep cliff slopes, as possible factors.
Authorities warn that further landslides are likely, urging search teams to avoid operations during or after heavy rainfall.