REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAMBI -- The evacuation of the bodies of seven illegal gold miners trapped in the excavation hole in Parit Tanjung Village of Merangin District, Jambi, was halted. The victims would be buried in mass at the location.

"Despite being able to spot the victims' position in the gold excavation hole, it was very difficult to evacuate the bodies, and thus they would be buried in mass," head of the Jambi Province's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Al Hussain said here on Wednesday.

Hussain stated that the decision was taken after an evaluation of the search operation involving the Merangin district administration, Basarnas, the military and police, and the families of the victims.

The incident has claimed seven lives, while six other miners survived. "The search and rescue operation was stopped after coordination with the local government, the military/police, families of the victims, and all institutions involved in the evacuation process," Hussain added.

The miners in Parit Tanjung Village, Renah Subdistrict, were searching for gold through a method of making excavation holes, which locals call a pinhole, at a depth of 30-50 meters. The illegal activity is very risky, as it involves making holes just below the Merangin River, one of the big rivers with rocks in the area.

Generally, the pinhole would be first excavated vertically, and then the miners would make another horizontal hole leading down the river. Hussain revealed that based on the initial report, there was a leak in the pinhole on Sunday (Sept 2), which sparked a landslide and caused the water to fill the hole.

Access to the location could only be through the waterway, and so the mobilization of equipment was very difficult. Heavy equipment could not enter the location.

The search and rescue team carried out water suction using a water pumping machine at the location, but the water debit increased, causing water suction to be ineffective. Hussain elaborated that the evacuation of the victims could only be done through the pinhole, but the pinhole had already been covered by landslides and water.

The SAR team in the evacuation operation consisted of the SAR Bungo Rescue Team one team, BPBD Merangin, the B Brimob Den B Bangko, the Merangin District Police, and the Kodim 0420/Sarko, assisted by the local community.

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