3 Bodies Of Freeport Mining Workers Found, Search For 2 Other Victims Still Continuing

PAPUA - PT Freeport Indonesia Emergency Response Team (PTFI) managed to evacuate the bodies of three mining workers trapped in the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, Sunday, October 5.

PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Tony Wenas expressed his condolences to the families of the victims who since mid-September have been in Tembagapura.

"On behalf of myself and the company, I would like to express my condolences to the families who have been in Tembagapura since September 14, 2025. May God Almighty give strength and fortitude to all of us," said Tony Wenas, confirmed from Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, October 5.

The three bodies were found in two stages, namely one body at around 12.00 WIT and two other bodies at around 16.53 WIT.

The identification results by the medical team and the police confirmed that the first victim was Victor Bastida Ballesteros, a Chilean citizen who worked for PT Redpath Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the other two victims are still undergoing further identification.

Apart from colleagues, they are part of the Freeport extended family. This loss brings deep sorrow to all of us," said Tony.

He mentioned that the discovery of these three bodies was an important progress in the rescue operation, but the search for all workers who were still trapped continued.

PTFI also ensures that it provides full assistance to the families of the victims as well as support for the ongoing identification process.

The incident of wet ore mud landslide occurred in the underground mining area of GBC, precisely at the Extraction 28-30 Panel, Tembagapura, on Monday (8/9) night at around 22.00 WIT.

Most of the employees were successfully evacuated, but seven workers were reportedly still trapped in the tunnel. On Saturday (20/9), two of them were found by the rescue team.

With the discovery of these three latest victims, a total of five out of seven workers have been found as of Sunday (5/10).