Freeport Indonesia ramps up search for missing workers in Grasberg Mine
Thursday, September 25 2025 - 07:19 AM WIB
By Romel S. Gurky
Freeport-McMoRan says the search is continuing "around the clock" for five missing workers at its Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine in Central Papua, following a massive mud inrush that has already claimed two lives.
In an update issued Wednesday, the company revealed that approximately 800,000 metric tons of wet material surged into the mine on September 8, inundating multiple levels and severely damaging infrastructure. The flow reached the mine’s service level, where the missing workers were last known to be conducting development activities.
Mining operations at the Grasberg complex, one of the world’s largest sources of copper and gold, have remained suspended since the incident.
“We are grieving for our coworkers lost in this tragic incident and extend our sincere condolences to the families who lost loved ones and who remain missing,” said Freeport Chairman Richard C. Adkerson and President and CEO Kathleen Quirk in a joint statement. “We recently visited the site to offer support to the families and express our appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of the PTFI organization and the emergency response team.”
Read also: Two workers confirmed dead in Freeport Indonesia’s Grasberg mine; five still missing
The two fatalities were recovered on September 20 by PT Freeport Indonesia’s (PTFI) Underground Mine Rescue (UGMR) team. Search teams continue to drill and clear debris in a hazardous environment marked by unstable material and blocked access routes.
An investigation into the root cause of the event is now underway, involving both internal teams and external mining and safety experts. PTFI expects the review to be completed by the end of 2025 and says it will include recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Indonesian government is also monitoring the situation closely and has been coordinating with PTFI as part of its regulatory oversight.
In parallel with the ongoing search, PTFI is assessing damage to underground infrastructure, including mobile equipment, ore chutes, electrical and communication systems, and rail lines.
Freeport has described the mud rush as “unprecedented” in the decades-long history of block cave mining at the site.
Freeport-McMoRan owns a 48.76% stake in PT Freeport Indonesia, with the remaining shares held by Indonesia’s state-owned mining holding company MIND ID.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak