Freeport Indonesia suspends Papua mine operation after landslide
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TIMIKA, Indonesia - Freeport Indonesia said on Sept 9 that it has temporarily halted operations at an underground mining site in restive Papua following a landslide that trapped seven workers.
The landslide happened late on Sept 8 when material from an extraction point flowed at one of five sections of the Grasberg Block Cave underground gold and copper mine in Tembagapura.
Seven workers were trapped after the flow closed access and limited evacuation routes, the company said.
“The location of the trapped workers has been identified, and they are believed to be safe. Crews are working to clear access for a safe and quick evacuation,” Freeport Indonesia’s spokesman, Katri Krisnati, said in a statement on Sept 9.
“Mining operations have been temporarily halted to prioritise clearing the access routes and safely evacuate the seven contractor workers,” she said, adding that the company was providing support to those trapped.
Grasberg Block Cave is one of three mines at the site operated by Freeport Indonesia, making up one of the largest gold and copper complexes in the world and a frequent flashpoint in Papua’s long-running insurgency. AFP
