Freeport workers still trapped as mine rescue enters second week

even workers from major mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) remain trapped underground, one week after a landslide struck the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mine in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Sept.

8, when a large volume of wet material flowed into part of the underground mine, cutting off evacuation routes. Rescue teams are still searching for a viable access route to the workers' location.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed that the crisis remains ongoing. "The people inside are still trapped. There is no further information, and the search is ongoing," Bahlil said at the State Palace on Monday, as quoted by Bisnis.com.

He added that Freeport's mining operations had been temporarily suspended and that the government was closely monitoring the situation.

Freeport was not immediately available for comment.

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Mineral and Coal Director General Tri Winarno said that two of the seven trapped workers were foreign nationals.

References

1. ^ View More Newsletter (www.thejakartapost.com)