Two men were buried alive and killed when a riverbank embankment collapsed in Jeli. The victims were trapped under heavy mounds of earth when the hillside suddenly gave way during the incident.

Police investigations revealed the tragic incident stemmed from unlicensed operations. Authorities confirmed the victims were conducting illegal gold mining along the dangerous riverbank slopes.

Authorities have identified both victims. One victim, Mohamad, tragically passed away before welcoming his fifth child and had unfulfilled cravings for ketupat pulut hitam, while his father noted recent behavioral changes.

1. Why is illegal gold mining highly dangerous on riverbanks?

Unlicensed operations often excavate unstable slopes without engineering safeguards. This severely compromises soil stability, leaving the terrain highly susceptible to sudden and catastrophic landslides or embankment collapses.

2. What legal penalties apply to unlicensed mining in Malaysia?

Under the Mineral Development Act 1994, individuals convicted of illegal mining face severe fines and imprisonment for extracting minerals without a valid Proprietor's Licence or mining lease.

3. How do state authorities crack down on these remote illegal sites?

The Land and Mines Office (PTG) collaborates with the police to conduct joint enforcement raids, destroy makeshift mining structures, and monitor hotspots to curb dangerous encroachment on state land.

- Generated by AI