Sat May 31 05:10:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article:
**Summary:**
A natural stone quarry in Cirebon district, West Java, Indonesia, collapsed on May 30, 2025, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and several injuries. Dozens of people were trapped in the rubble. Rescue efforts continue, though authorities believe several people remain trapped. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, and the quarry owner is being questioned. The governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, had previously noted the dangerous conditions at the quarry and has now ordered its closure, along with four other similar sites. Illegal mining operations are common in Indonesia and pose significant safety risks.
**News Article:**
**Quarry Collapse in Indonesia Claims 14 Lives, Rescue Efforts Ongoing**
**Cirebon, Indonesia – May 31, 2025** – A devastating quarry collapse in Cirebon district, West Java, has claimed the lives of at least 14 people, with authorities fearing more casualties as rescue operations continue. The Gunung Kuda quarry collapsed on Friday, May 30, trapping over two dozen workers in the rubble.
The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) confirmed the death toll, stating that five people are hospitalized with serious injuries after a grueling search effort that recovered 10 bodies on Friday and an additional three later that evening. One worker died in the hospital. Local reports showed emergency personnel, police, soldiers and volunteers working desperately to clear debris from the steep limestone cliff. Five excavators were supporting rescue efforts.
“We believe there are still six to eight people trapped beneath the rubble,” stated an official from BASARNAS.
Local police chief Sumarni announced that the cause of the collapse is under investigation, and the quarry owner is among six people being questioned.
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi revealed that he had visited the quarry prior to his election and recognized the hazardous working conditions. “It did not meet the safety standard elements for its workers,” Mulyadi stated in a video message. He has since ordered the immediate closure of the Gunung Kuda quarry, along with four other similar sites in West Java. “I didn’t have any capacity to stop it at that time.”
The incident highlights the dangers associated with illegal and informal resource extraction operations, which are prevalent in Indonesia. These operations often lack proper safety measures, leading to a high risk of injury and death for workers. Landslides, flooding, and tunnel collapses are common hazards in these environments. Last year, a landslide struck an unauthorized gold mine on Sumatra island, killing at least 15 people.
First Piper 