4 Fatalities, 10 Survivors, at least 25 Workers Remain Trapped at Big Gossan

By Cepi Setiadi and Godang Sitompul

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) reported that the company?s rescuers worked throughout the night and managed to evacuate 10 survivors and four fatalities by this morning, following a tunnel collapse at the Big Gossan mine training facility yesterday.

A total of 25 workers are believed to be still trapped in the collapsed tunnel while rescue and recovery work is continuing. So far the rescue efforts have been hampered by the confined and restricted space within the tunnel, forcing them to use manual jacks, saws and wheelbarrows instead of heavy earth-moving equipment.

PTFI rescuers are currently working with mine inspectors from the Department of Mines on how best to proceed with the rescue and recovery efforts.

?This is a very sad day for us,? said PTFI President Director Rozik B. Soetjipto on his press statement today. ?Our thoughts and prayers go to all the victims and their families and we will continue to do our best to evacuate the remaining workers.?

Rozik said that PTFI has informed the families of the deceased and are providing them with all the assistance necessary in this difficult time. All four of the deceased have been identified as Mateus Marandof, Selpianus Edowai, Yapinus Tabuni and Aan Nugraha.

Of the 10 survivors who have been rushed to the company?s hospital at Tembagapura, all of them have been reported to be in stable condition. One of them was airlifted to Jakarta this morning for further treatment. Five others are scheduled to be airlifted tomorrow. The area of the incident is located outside of mining areas at approximately 500 meters from the entrance of the Big Gossan Mine.

Workers attending refresher class: 39 people
Injured: 10
Deceased: 4
Still unaccounted for: 25

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora