Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - The police have begun an investigation into an accident at gold and copper mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia's underground mining site in Tembagapura, Papua, that claimed the lives of two of its workers last week.

Chief of the Mimika Police Resort Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agung Marianto remarked in Timika, Papua, on Wednesday that PT Freeport officers and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's mining inspection team will also be part of the probe.

"In the interim, the team is conducting its duties in Tembagapura. The probe is being carried out to unearth the reason behind the accident that took place at PT Freeport's mining site last week," he noted.

Taufiq Adnin Rasyad, a foreman of DOZ-ore flow ops, and Kawi Yanto Waroy, a member of the ore flow support crew, lost their lives in the accident. The landslide had reportedly buried their bodies on Wednesday (Apr 3).

Rasyad was a worker with PT Freeport for over two decades, whereas Waroy had begun working for the company in July 2017.

The burial of the two Freeport workers' bodies was done in their hometowns in Palopo, South Sulawesi, and Sorong, West Papua.

PT Freeport spokesman Riza Pratama affirmed that the company has carried out an internal investigation into the accident.

"We have conducted an internal investigation over the accident, and the mining inspector has been notified of its result," he stated.

The landslide struck PT Freeport Indonesia's underground mining site during the time several workers were engaged in conducting repair work on a feeder. Two other workers were lucky enough to survive the accident and escaped with minor injuries.

Translator: Evarianus Supar, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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