Six Questioned as Death Toll Rises in West Java, Indonesia, Quarry Collapse

Several dead after stone quarry collapse in Indonesia

Indonesian authorities are questioning six individuals, including the owner of the Gunung Kuda quarry, following a deadly rock collapse at the site in West Java. The incident, which occurred on Friday in the Cirebon district, has so far claimed at least 17 lives, with rescue efforts still underway for eight people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Local police chief Sumarni confirmed on Saturday that 16 bodies had been recovered by the afternoon. Among the 12 survivors initially found, one later died in hospital from injuries sustained during the collapse. The cause of the rockfall is under investigation, with officials focusing on the quarry's operational practices.

17 dead, six injured after a landslide hit a mining site in Gunung Kuda, Cirebon, Indonesia on May 30

“The search operation has been hampered by bad weather, unstable soil, and rugged terrain,” said Sumarni, who, like many Indonesians, goes by a single name. Emergency responders, including police, soldiers, and civilian volunteers, were seen digging through layers of rock and debris at the base of a steep limestone cliff. Excavators worked to shift massive stones while rescue workers transferred recovered bodies into ambulances.

The tragedy has renewed scrutiny on Indonesia’s widespread problem with illegal or unregulated mining operations. These sites often lack proper safety measures and are prone to disasters such as landslides, tunnel collapses, and flooding. In response, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi announced the closure of the Gunung Kuda quarry and four other similar quarries in the region.

The search for 8 missing workers continues

This incident echoes a similar disaster in 2023, when a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried an unauthorized gold mining site on Sumatra island, killing at least 15 people.