Search

Illegal gold miners killed by landslide in Indonesia's remote Papua province

AP - Tuesday, May 6

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A landslide killed at least 13 illegal gold miners close to a massive mine operated by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., police and company officials said Tuesday. Nine others were missing and feared dead.

The landslide hit a mining camp following torrential rain, said Lt. Col. Godhelp Mansnembra.

Freeport spokesman Mindo Pangaribuan said the landslide occurred around five kilometers (three miles) from the company's Grasberg gold and copper mine.

"All the victims are local people who were digging the location illegally," he said. "We have been concerned for a long time about their working conditions and are working with authorities to find the best solution on how to relocate them."

He said operations at Grasberg were unaffected by the accident and the company had sent heavy lifting equipment to assist in efforts to retrieve bodies.

Landslides kill dozens of people every year in Indonesia, a vast tropical archipelago spanning more than 17,000 islands along the equator.

Recommend this article

Average (0 votes)
0 stars
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »

Related Articles: Indonesia

Related Articles: Asia Pacific