Freeport mining accident kills at least one worker

At least one worker was killed and another remains unaccounted for after a roof collapsed at a mining area in Papua, PT Freeport Indonesia said Tuesday.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdani Sirait said a possible mine blast could have caused a roof to collapse late Monday night at a so-called Deep Ore Zone in the Mimika District of Papua, where the men were working, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Freeport Indonesia is a subsidiary of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper& Gold.

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said operations at the copper and gold mine owned by PT Freeport Indonesia have been suspended in order for the cleanup process and investigations to be carried out, as rescue teams try to locate the missing person.

During the search and rescue operations, one body was pulled out, and while one person has been confirmed missing, personnel are still verifying whether other individuals were working in the area when the accident occurred.(*)