Freeport Indonesia says death toll rises to 28 after tunnel accident

Business & Markets 2013
Written by Reuters
Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:10
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JAKARTA (May 22): The death toll from a tunnel collapse at the world's
second largest copper mine run by Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold
Inc's Indonesian unit was raised to 28 on Wednesday as rescuers gave
up hope of finding any more survivors.
Arizona-based Freeport closed the remote Papua mine on Wednesday
last week, a day after a training tunnel away from its main operations
fell in on 38 workers. Ten workers were rescued, but the search for the
seven still listed as missing has now turned into an attempt the retrieve
their bodies.
"We continue to grieve with the families even as we close this grim
chapter," Freeport Indonesia President Director Rozik Soetjipto said in a
statement.
"There is still much to do for us to provide the best care and support for
the injured and the families of the bereaved."
Although Indonesia's mining sector has a poor safety record, last
week's tunnel accident is one of the country's worst-ever mining
disasters, industry officials say.
Soetjipto said on Saturday that once the rescue efforts were finished
the company would launch an investigation with the help of international
experts and Indonesian government officials.
Freeport emergency response teams, who are working around the clock to try to recover the remains of the dead, have been
hampered by narrow tunnels and loose rock at the site, Wednesday's statement said.
It made no mention of the investigation or the current suspension of mining operations.
A union leader last week demanded that Freeport keep the mine closed while the cause of the accident was investigated.
The incident's impact on global copper supply has so far been limited as the Grasberg mine keeps stockpiles in reserve in
case of disruptions, but that would change if any investigation and closure drags on.