Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA) - The site of the mining accident, which led to the death of 11 coal miners at Tanjung Lalang village, South Sumatra. (ANTARA/HO-Polsek Tanjung Agung/20)
“It is true they were buried in the landslide and found dead. They all have been evacuated and taken by their families to be laid in state at their respective houses,” chief of the Muara Enim district police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Donni Eka Saputra, said.
The 11 miners were making a path under the land surface when an eight-meter high wall on the right side of the smallholder coal mining site suddenly collapsed and buried them, chief of the Tanjung Agung police precinct, Adjunct Commissioner Faisal Pangihutan Manulu, said.
The wall collapse is believed to have been triggered by soft soil following heavy rains overnight.
It took three hours for rescue workers to remove the bodies of the 11 coal miners with the help of heavy-duty equipment. The bodies were then taken to the nearby public health service post.
After being identified, the bodies of the 11 miners were handed over to their families.
Manulu said many smallholder coal mining sites are located near the site of the accident.
Police have frequently warned local residents against mining coal illegally, he added.
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