At least 10 dead after stone quarry collapse in Indonesia

A tragic event took place in Indonesia's West Java province when a natural stone quarry collapsed on May 30, 2025. The incident occurred while several workers were present in the quarry, and it resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals, with six others reported missing. Rescue efforts were quickly initiated, but the unstable soil conditions made the situation extremely hazardous for the rescuers. Local police chief Sumarni mentioned that over two dozen people were trapped in the rubble, leading to grueling search operations that had initially moved at a slow pace due to these risks. Rescuers managed to recover injured individuals from the debris during the search operation. As the evening approached, the search was temporarily suspended, but rescuers planned to resume efforts the following morning with the aid of additional excavators and trucks. Despite the efforts, concerns remained regarding the safety of similar mining operations in the region. Prior to the incident, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi had flagged safety issues at this quarry, noting that it failed to meet essential safety standards for its workers. The governor stated that during his prior visits, he had observed the danger posed by “C-grade” mining operations which often neglect proper safety protocols. Several quarries were ordered to close as a response to the safety violations and the environmental risks they posed. This unfortunate event highlighted the pervasive issue of illegal or informal mining operations present in Indonesia, where workers frequently face unsafe conditions that can lead to fatal incidents. This quarry collapse is not an isolated incident. In the past, similar disasters have occurred in Indonesia, with one notable case last year involving a landslide at an unauthorized gold mining site in Sumatra that resulted in multiple fatalities. The persistence of such accidents raises alarms about the government's ability to regulate and enforce mining safety regulations effectively. As local authorities continue their investigation into the cause of this latest collapse, the focus remains on ensuring that the safety of workers is prioritized in the future operations.