Search continues for missing employees at Freeport mine

Nethy Dharma Somba and A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Jakarta

The government has sent a team of experts to investigate a fatal accident at PT Freeport Indonesia mine in Tembagapura area, Mimika regency on Thursday, which left two employees dead and six others missing.

Production activities in the Grasberg mine have also been put on hold for up to two weeks to enable the search for the missing employees and to clear 2.3 million tons of mud covering the section.

Minister of Mines and Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro told a press conference in Jakarta on Friday that the mudslide occurred mostly in the southern part of the pit mine area.

"The accident ... affected 13 people, two of them were killed, five injured and six are still missing," Purnomo said as quoted by Antara.

One of the survivors had his legs amputated and was flown to an Australian hospital for further medical treatment.

At least six mining large machines operating in the open pit mine were also covered by mud in the accident, which occurred at 5:45 a.m. local time. Papua time is two hours ahead of Jakarta.

To probe into the case, the mines and energy ministry dispatched three mining inspectors and two geotechnology experts to Tembagapura.

"The team will investigate the incident. The result of their investigation will be used for the government's next measures," he said.

The search, conducted by local police and military, turned up nothing on Friday.

"There was no development. The search will continue tomorrow," Mimika Police deputy chief Comr. Rhinto Prastowo told The Jakarta Post.

Rhinto said the slippage might have been caused by rain, although it was not falling heavily at that time.

"The center of the slippage was located about 500 meters from the workers. But it happened so fast, so the workers could not get away," he said.

The dead were identified as Budi Kuncoro, 30, and Philipus Phalas, 30, and were handed over to their relatives in Jakarta and Makassar, South Sulawesi respectively on Thursday.

Separately, the company's U.S. parent company, Freeport- McMoran, said on Friday production for the fourth quarter would be reduced but long-term plans would not be affected, AFP reported.

PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Adrianto Machribie said the company would focus on the search for the missing employees and medical treatment for those injured.

"All the victims were insured." he said.

Asked whether the accident would affect the company's production target, Adrianto said: "If the problem can be settled quickly, we can still realize our production plan."

This year, the company set a production target of 1.4 billion pounds of bronze and 2.6 million ounces of gold.

He said the company would use some of its reserves to fulfill consumer demand for the coming week.