(The cause) is still being investigated by the police regarding the accident
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Investigators from West Sumatra police and Sawahlunto police have launched a probe into an explosion at PT NAL Sawahlunto's IUP (Mining Business Permit) coal mine in West Sumatra on Friday, which killed four miners and injured five.



Head of the public relations division of the National Police, General Dedi Prasetyo, conveyed the information in Jakarta on Friday.



He said six miners remained buried in a mining pit approximately 200 meters deep at the site.



"(The cause) is still being investigated by the police regarding the accident," Prasetyo informed.

He said that police officials are currently focusing on evacuating the victims of the mining accident.



"The main focus at this time is the evacuation of victims," he stated.



Based on the interim report, the explosion at the coal mine occurred at 9 a.m. local time, Prasetyo informed.


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The site of the explosion was PT NAL Sapan Dalam's IUP mining pit in Salak village, Talawi sub-district, Sawahlunto city.



"It is suspected that there was an explosion from inside the mine pit," he informed.



When pit workers started deep mining activities on Friday morning, smoke reportedly started to emit from the mine hole and was accompanied by a small explosion from inside the hole.



When the company was apprised of this, it ordered the head of the mining hole to conduct an inspection.

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Out of the 15 miners who were in the deep hole at the time of the incident, 9 were evacuated. They comprised 5 injured miners and 4 dead miners.



"There are 6 workers who still need to be evacuated or are still in the hole," he said.



Led by the head of Sawahlunto police station, adjunct senior commissioner Purwanto Hari Subekti, police officers have moved to the location.



According to him, the condition of the workers is not yet known. The hole contains methane gas and debris as a result of the explosion.



"Police had visited the crime scene, carried out security surveillance, collected data and information, and brought the victims to the hospital," Prasetyo informed.


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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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