Caught On Camera: Landslide Sends Trucks Toppling At Indonesia Nickel Mine

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 19:29 IST

A video from Indonesia’s East Halmahera shows workers fleeing as a second landslide hits a nickel mining site, sending vehicles toppling amid dust and debris.

A video shows a driver unfastening his seat belt and escaping his truck just moments before a second landslide hits a nickel mining site in Indonesia. (IMAGE: X/@WeatherMonitors)

A video circulating on social media shows the terrifying moment a second landslide struck a nickel mining site in Indonesia’s East Halmahera region, forcing workers to flee as earth and debris surged through the area.

The 1-minute-14-second clip, shared by Weather Monitor and attributed to a worker at the site, appears to be filmed from inside a heavy road-construction vehicle. The camera is positioned near one corner of the dashboard and does not fully show the windshield, but captures the chaos unfolding outside as the slope gives way.

The video opens with a driver seated inside the truck. Within seconds, sensing danger, he is seen unfastening his seat belt and reaching for the door. He manages to get out of the vehicle almost immediately. Outside, several other workers can be seen running for safety as dust and soil rise in the background.

As the landslide intensifies, another nearby vehicle comes into view and appears to be pushed by the force of the sliding earth before toppling. In the background, the treeline and sky are briefly visible before dust and debris rapidly reduce visibility. The clip ends with the camera capturing mostly soil as the vehicle shifts, suggesting the landslide has engulfed the immediate area.

The incident reportedly occurred at the PT Mega Haltim Mineral (MHM) nickel mining site in East Halmahera, North Maluku province. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties from this specific incident in the video.

News18 has not independently verified the authenticity of the video.

The visuals come amid a spate of deadly landslides across Indonesia, triggered by persistent heavy rainfall. According to Reuters, at least 34 people have been killed and 32 remain missing after a major landslide hit Pasir Langu village in West Java’s Bandung Barat region earlier this week.

The West Java landslide struck early Saturday after heavy rains began a day earlier. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said rain continues to hamper rescue operations, though more than 800 personnel, including military and police, along with nine excavators, have been deployed to search for survivors.

Among those affected is 14-year-old Muhammad Rifal Firmansyah, whose parents were found dead, while his brother remains missing. Rifal was studying at an Islamic boarding school about 50 km away when the landslide struck and learned about the disaster from a cousin.

Indonesia is prone to landslides during the monsoon season, particularly in hilly and mining-intensive regions, where prolonged rainfall can destabilise soil and slopes, often with devastating consequences.

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