Freeport concludes Grasberg Mine rescue, all victims found

Timika (ANTARA) - PT Freeport Indonesia has officially declared the rescue operation at the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Tembagapura, Central Papua, complete, following the recovery of all seven workers who had been trapped since September 8.

The final recoveries were made on Sunday evening. After 27 grueling days of continuous effort, the PT Freeport Indonesia rescue team worked in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mimika Police, the National Search and Rescue Agency, and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

Together, they successfully located and evacuated five workers from the site of the wet material slide at the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine, the company said in an official statement on Monday. "Tragically, all five were found deceased," the statement read.

The five victims were employees of PT Redpath Indonesia: Zaverius Magai, Holong Gembira Silaban, Dadang Hermanto, Balisang Telile (South African), and Victor Bastida Ballesteros (Chilean). Two other workers, employed by PT Cita Contract, had been found deceased earlier on Saturday, September 20.

Four of the recovered bodies will be flown to Jakarta on Monday afternoon from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika for burial in their respective hometowns. Zaverius Magai will be laid to rest in Kuala Kencana, Timika.

PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Tony Wenas expressed heartfelt condolences for the loss.

"They were not just colleagues—they were friends and part of the extended Freeport Indonesia family. This tragedy brings profound sorrow to all of us," Wenas said.

"On behalf of myself and the company, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families, who have been in Tembagapura since September 14. May God Almighty grant us strength and resilience," he added.

Wenas also commended the tireless efforts of the rescue team, who worked around the clock under extremely challenging conditions.

"The operation was prolonged due to the remote location and the sheer volume of wet material—estimated at around 800,000 tons. We are deeply grateful to all parties who offered their support, thoughts, and prayers throughout this difficult time," he added.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to fully supporting the families of the victims and ensuring the dignified handling of their remains.

A comprehensive and transparent investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. Its findings will guide the company in implementing preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.