Newcrest says workers trapped at Kencana underground mine now safe
Wednesday, December 29 2010 - 12:49 AM WIB
Australian mining firm Newcrest Mining Limited announced on Wednesday that the two nine operators isolated by a slide of mudstone in a section of the Kencana underground mine at Gosowong on Halmahera island, North Maluku province, were reached by recovery operations Tuesday evening.
The two men are unharmed and have been reunited with their families and work colleagues, the company said in statement.
Recovery operations are now being wound down, it said.
The two operators were working on an excavator and an underground loader in a sub level of the mine on Dec. 19 when they were separated from the main workings when a movement of mudstone blocked access to the area.
Gosowong mine is run by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, a joint venture between Newcrest (82.5 percent) and PT Aneka Tambang (17.5 percent). (denny)