Four dead in Freeport mining accident

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) reported on Saturday that four of its workers died in a mining accident on its open pit mining area in Grasberg, Papua, involving a unit of light operational vehicle and a unit of haul truck.

PTFI stated in a press release on Saturday that the accident occurred on Saturday morning at around 7.24 eastern Indonesian time (WIT). The light vehicle was carrying 9 workers including one driver, while in the haul truck there was only its driver. Four of them had been confirmed dead, while the rest had been taken to Tembagapura hospital for treatment.

The company did not report what was the cause of the accident. But it said that all works in the mining area had been temporarily stopped to allow consolidation and further investigation.

PTFI said that it had reported the accident to the energy and mineral resources ministry.

Previously, the company reported one of its workers died due to a stone landslide inside its underground mining.

Editing by Benget Besalicto ST