A landslide at an abandoned, illegal gold mine in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province has killed 12 women, reports France Media Agency (AFP).

The disaster, which was caused by the collapse of a cliff in the Mandailing Natal district of North Sumatra, occurred on April 28.

“The cliff around the mine collapsed and buried the 12 women, killing them all,” local police chief Marlon Rajagukguk told AFP.

Two other women at the mine managed to survive the landslide.

After hours of rescue operation, the rescue team evacuated the bodies of the victims lying in a two-meter deep hole filled with mud.

Rajagukguk added, “Now all the bodies of the victims have been returned to their families.”

Last year, the collapse of an illegal gold mine in Parigi Moutong on the island of Sulawesi killed six miners.

Illegal mining in Mandailing Natal, located about 300 km south of the provincial capital of Medan, is significant. The area includes several abandoned mine sites.

In January 2022, landslides at a coal mine in Indonesia’s South Kalimantan province reportedly trapped ten workers.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Indonesia announced a ban on coal exports for a month to ensure sufficient supply for national power plants and avoid blackouts.

Under Indonesia’s Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy, coal miners in the country are required to supply 25% of annual production at a maximum price of $70 per ton to the utility PT PLN (Persero ).

The ban follows minors’ failure to comply with the DMO policy.