Two Freeport Mine Workers Found Dead After Being Trapped
Tragic Outcome in Freeport Mine Collapse: Two Missing Workers Found Dead After 12-Day Search
TIMIKA, Papua, Indonesia (September 20, 2025) – In a devastating conclusion to a nearly two-week search, rescue teams have recovered the bodies of two miners trapped underground following a wet muck slide incident at the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mine, operated by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI). The victims were found on Saturday morning, September 20, at approximately 08:45 local time (WIT).
The discovery marks a somber turn in the rescue operation that began on Monday, September 8, when a landslide occurred within the massive underground complex in Tembagapura, Central Papua. Initially, seven workers were reported missing and trapped following the collapse.
According to a statement from PT Freeport Indonesia's VP of Corporate Communications, Katri Krisnati, the process of formally identifying the deceased is now awaiting the presence and official confirmation from police authorities.
"Kami menyampaikan belasungkawa yang sedalam-dalamnya kepada keluarga yang ditinggalkan dan memastikan pendampingan penuh bagi mereka," (We convey our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and ensure full support for them), said Katri. She further emphasized that the company remains committed to "continuing the search and rescue for the other colleagues by mobilizing all efforts."
The rescue operation has been fraught with extreme difficulty and danger. For twelve days, teams worked tirelessly to reach the trapped workers, facing significant challenges and high safety risks due to the unstable nature of the collapsed material. PTFI deployed every available resource, including remote loaders, drills, and drone technology to map the unstable area and locate the missing personnel from a safe distance.
The use of drones became a critical component of the strategy, allowing rescuers to assess conditions in areas too dangerous for personnel to enter directly. Despite these technological efforts and the relentless work of the rescue teams, the operation has now confirmed its first two fatalities.
The focus of the operation remains on locating the five remaining missing workers. PT Freeport Indonesia, a major subsidiary of the American mining giant Freeport-McMoRan, has stated that the search efforts will continue with the same intensity.
This incident highlights the inherent dangers of large-scale underground mining and is likely to prompt further scrutiny of safety protocols within the industry. The Grasberg mine is one of the world's largest copper and gold mines.