Indonesia
Archipelago
Mandailing Natal regency has seen numerous landslides killing illegal gold miners in the past few years, despite crackdown against such activities by the North Sumatra provincial administration.
A man stands next to excavators from an illegal gold mine at an unidentified location in North Sumatra on March 3, 2026. North Sumatra police raided six illegal gold mines in South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal regencies on March 2 and 3. (Antaranews.com/North Sumatra Police)
Two illegal gold miners died after being buried by a landslide in Mandailing Natal regency, 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.
