Rocks bury mine site, claiming four lives

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java

Four miners were killed and three others injured after a dynamite blast was believed to have triggered a massive landslide near the West Java Capital of Bandung on Wednesday morning, witnesses and police said.

Police immediately arrested two top officials from the mining company involved in the tragedy.

The four casualties occurred at around 6:30 a.m. as tons of mud and rock swept through the mine site in Sukawargi village, Baleendah subdistrict, about 25 kilometers from Bandung.

The bodies of M. Wiwik, 45, Agus bin Engkos, 27, and Dodi bin Itang, 45, have been recovered. Rescue workers were still searching for the forth victim, Itang bin Endang, 60.

The injured miners were named as Iwan, 22, Agus Gunawan, 22, and Maman, 60.

All the seven victims, from the neighboring village of Sukamelang, had been taken to the Al-Ihsan Hospital. At least two of the dead were buried by their families later in the day.

When the disaster hit, the victims were preparing to start work at the mine site operated by private mining firm PD Alam Jaya, which is based in Sukawargi.

Iwan, one of survivors, said he and his co-workers were sitting near the scene readying their traditional digging equipment.

"Suddenly we heard thunder along with screams from my coworkers. I ran away immediately as rocks and mud chased me."

Iwan said the four dead miners were experienced.

Bandung Police chief detective Adj. Comr. Rusman said the landslide was suspected to have been caused by "a dynamite blast" on Tuesday evening.

Based on information from witnesses, including the injured victims, miners had detonated dynamite at the hill wall, around 30 meters from the scene, on Tuesday evening to make digging easier, Rusman said.

Iwan said: "Dynamite explosions are commonly used for excavations as the hill is so solid. But the possibility of a landslide never crossed my mind."

There had been no recent heavy rain.

Rusman said the police had arrested PD Alam Jaya owner H. Dede Somantri and the company's technical division head Sarjan Lubis as suspects in the deaths.

"We consider the two the most responsible for the accident," he said.

He said police were still investigating.

"From the field investigation, it will be clear whether they (the suspects) have perpetrated a crime or not. After that, we will draft a case to file against them," Rusman added.

Kamaludin, mining division head at the Bandung environment office, accused the mine operators of a "procedural mistake".

"They used the undercutting technique as they only dug the lower part of the hill, thus creating hollow spaces like caves. They should have used the trapping system, namely digging from the top gradually," he said.

Kamaludin said his office was considering revoking the operational license of PD Alam Jaya over the accident.

The police cordoned off the scene and temporarily shut down the mine.