September 15, 2025 | 03:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported that two of the seven PT Freeport Indonesia workers trapped in an underground mine landslide are foreign nationals. The two are from Chile and South Africa, while the remaining five are Indonesian citizens.
The Director General of Mineral Resources at the ESDM, Tri Winarno, stated that the evacuation is still underway. "The foreign workers' respective embassies have been notified," he said at the parliament building complex on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Tri could not confirm when the evacuation would be completed or the workers' current condition. He added that the team on-site is working to move the debris blocking the mine shaft. "Only God knows the possibility of survival."
The seven PT Freeport Indonesia workers have been trapped since a landslide occurred on Monday night, September 8, 2025.
Katri Krisnati, Vice President of Corporate Communications at PTFI, explained that a large amount of material flowed from a production uptake point in one of the five underground mine blocks. This flow has blocked access and evacuation routes for the seven contractor workers.
"The location of the trapped workers has been identified and they are believed to be safe. Our team is trying to open access so the evacuation can be done quickly and safely," Katri said in a written statement on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
She also mentioned that the company is ensuring the workers' needs are met while they wait for rescue. Mining operations have been temporarily halted to prioritize the rescue efforts.
Katri added that mining in the Grasberg Block Cave is generally conducted using remotely controlled equipment. However, the landslide blocked an access route where the workers were carrying out mining development activities. All other workers have been confirmed safe.
This is not the first landslide incident at a Freeport mine. According to Tempo reports, a landslide on May 14, 2013, tragically killed 28 of the 34 workers who were trapped. Two weeks later, on May 31, 2013, another worker was injured after being hit by mud and had to be hospitalized.
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