Inp.polri.go.id - Sungailiat. Six tin miners were confirmed dead after a catastrophic landslide buried an illegal mining site in Pemali Village, Bangka Regency, on Monday afternoon. 

The joint search and rescue (SAR) team recovered the bodies in two stages: three were retrieved late Monday night, and another three were found in the early hours of Tuesday (3/2/2026). The victims, reportedly originating from Pandeglang, Banten, were buried under massive mounds of earth while operating heavy machinery at the "Pondi" mine site.

“All victims, both deceased and injured, have been taken to the hospital for identification and treatment,” said Rusmansyah, the Head of BPBD Bangka, on Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 5 am on Monday when the unstable soil at the excavation site suddenly collapsed with a loud roar. Out of the 11 workers present at the time, four managed to survive the collapse, one of whom is currently being treated for leg injuries, while one miner remains missing. 

Authorities noted that while the site is located within PT Timah’s official concession area (IUP), the specific operation lacked legal permits. SAR teams are currently using excavators to locate the final victim amid fears of further landslides.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)