A man’s body has been found following a landslide incident at a gold mine in the Solomon Islands, as confirmed by officials. The landslide occurred on Guadalcanal, the largest island in the country, on July 27, affecting the open pit mine. The body of the man was discovered 24 hours after the incident.
The landslide covered a 100-meter (328-foot) stretch of an access road leading to the pit, with the cause remaining unknown, according to Prime Minister Matthew Wale. Authorities are conducting a search operation to determine if there are other individuals trapped in the area.
Prime Minister Wale expressed concerns about potential inadequate mining practices leading to such incidents and emphasized the importance of reinforcing regulations. Although no missing or deceased persons were officially identified at the time, the government is actively investigating the situation.
The mine’s operators, Wanguo Gold Group Ltd, stated that none of their staff were injured or missing, and there was no damage to mining equipment. Operations at the mine have resumed following the incident.
The victim, identified as Ashley Olo by the police, had his body returned to his family, noted Acting Commissioner James Aitorea. Reports from local sources indicated that some non-employee individuals were reported missing, possibly informal miners working in the area.
Located near Honiara, the capital city, the gold mine is the only large-scale mining operation in the country. Previously owned by an Australian company, the mine is now primarily owned by Wanguo Gold Group, a Hong Kong-listed firm, with local landowners holding a minority stake. Concerns about safety led to the Australian company selling the mine in 2015.
There have been past conflicts at the site involving local landowners, illegal miners, and law enforcement, as reported by local news outlets.
