At least 60 people are feared to have been buried by a landslide at an illegal Indonesian gold mine.

Rescuers are searching for survivors at the site, in the Bolaang Mongondow area, on the island of Sulawesi.

Indonesia's disaster agency said one person had been found dead and at least 13 rescued by 0500 on Wednesday (2200 GMT Tuesday).

A spokesman said supporting beams gave way at the mine "due to unstable land and numerous mining shafts".

"It is estimated that as many as 60 people are buried under landslide and rock material," the agency said.

Images from the scene showed rescue teams and local people working through the night to carry survivors off a mud-covered hillside.

Small-scale gold mining is banned in Indonesia, but remains widespread in rural areas. Lack of regulation and the poor construction of makeshift mines means accidents are relatively frequent.

Campaigners have long argued that a lack of local employment opportunities meant people felt forced to rely on illegal mining.

Source: BBC  

BDST: 1031 HRS, FEB 27, 2019

AH