JAKARTA – Ten miners have been trapped underground as landslides struck a coal mine in South Kalimantan province in central Indonesia, reported Xinhua news agency, quoting a senior disaster official today.
The landslides occurring outside the underground area from Sunday night to yesterday afternoon triggered mudflow and submerged the site, Provincial Disaster Management Agency’s Emergency Unit head Abdul Rahim told Xinhua via phone.
“The mud has fully submerged the underground area located in lower spots. Ten miners were working in the lower spots. We expect them to have moved to the higher places before the sites were inundated, so they can survive,” he told Xinhua, adding that the food supplies with the miners will only last them three days.
A total of 22 people were working at the mine when the accident took place, 12 of whom escaped but suffered injuries, according to the official.
Efforts resumed today focusing on removing the mud with pumps, so that rescuers can enter the underground site, he said.
“Still, the strength of the pumps that we have is still weak. We need more pumps with higher power,” Rahim said. – Bernama, January 26, 2021
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