A landslide and flood near a remote gold mine in eastern Indonesia have killed at least six people, with 14 others still missing, officials confirmed on Monday.

The disaster occurred on Friday night in West Papua province following hours of torrential rain, said Yefri Sabaruddin, head of the local search and rescue agency.

“The latest figures show six fatalities, and 14 individuals are still being searched for,” Sabaruddin told AFP.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB), reported that the floodwaters inundated a miners' camp.

“The floodwaters from upstream struck a temporary shelter used by traditional gold miners around 9:00 PM (1200 GMT), sweeping away their tents and equipment,” he said in a statement.

Four people were injured and treated locally, but no significant infrastructure damage or displacement of residents has been reported.

“Thus far, no substantial physical or material losses have been identified. Additionally, no residents have been forced to evacuate,” Muhari added.

Unlicensed mining operations are common throughout Indonesia, where abandoned or informal mining sites attract locals in search of gold without proper safety measures.

While authorities have not confirmed the legal status of the mine involved, Sabaruddin emphasized that the priority remains on rescue and evacuation efforts.

The remote location has significantly hampered rescue operations. Police, military personnel, and volunteers face challenging terrain, requiring up to two hours to reach the site—one of which must be travelled on foot.

“The conditions are extremely difficult, with damaged roads forcing vehicles to proceed cautiously,” Sabaruddin said.

Indonesia is highly vulnerable to landslides, particularly during the rainy season, which typically spans from November to April.

This incident follows several similar tragedies: in September, a landslide at an illegal gold mine in West Sumatra claimed 13 lives and injured 12, while in July, another landslide near an illegal site on Sulawesi island killed at least 27 people.