Gorontalo. At least five people have died, and dozens are missing after a landslide buried a gold mine in the Sulawesi province of Gorontalo on Sunday.

Rescue operations are underway in the East Suwawa district of Bone Bolango regency, according to Heriyanto, head of the provincial search and rescue agency.

"The landslide occurred just before dawn following torrential rain overnight," Heriyanto said. "Difficult terrain has slowed the rescue team, which is estimated to reach the area in the afternoon."

“Our team has been deployed to the scene, and we will immediately update the information,” he added.

It is feared that many miners are still trapped inside underground tunnels. Early reports indicate that at least 26 miners are unaccounted for.

The area is known for its many illegal gold mines, which often disregard safety regulations. However, it remains unclear if the affected mine was operating illegally.