MEDAN – Two illegal gold miners died after being buried by a landslide in Mandailing Natal regency, in Indonesia’s North Sumatra, just as the provincial administration was launching a crackdown on illegal gold mines in several areas.

The illegal gold miners were identified as Erlin Nasution from Tarlola village and Zulparman from Aek Guo village. They were buried in Aek Guo village, Batang Natal district, on Saturday afternoon. 

Mandailing Natal Police Crimes Investigation (Reskrim) unit chief adjunct commissioner Tri Boy Alvin Siahaan said the case was still being investigated and police have questioned several witnesses at the scene of the accident. He added that police officers have also visited the site as part of the initial investigation. 

He added that witnesses said a group of miners were mining gold illegally on July 4 when an unstable earth structure suddenly caused a landslide at about 4pm, falling on the illegal miners. It was said that both victims were unable to escape immediately. 

“Both victims died after being buried by a landslide while manually and illegally digging for gold,” he said on July 6.   

Tri added that the victims’ bodies have been evacuated and handed over to their respective families for burials.

He said that landslides often occur in illegal gold mine areas. Police were studying the possibility of criminal element in the mining activity. 

Mandailing Natal regency has seen repeated numbers of illegal gold miners dying after being buried by landslides.

Recently, two other illegal gold miners died in a landslide at illegal gold mines at the Aek Baru area in Simanguntong village, Batang Natal district, on March 18. 

Previously, an illegal miner had fallen into a hole and was then buried by a landslide at the Pulo Padang illegal gold mine in Simpang Durian village, Linggabayu district, on May 25, 2025. 

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