Wigih Hartono, 38, was one of two confirmed fatalities in the September 8 underground landslide at the Tembagapura subdistrict mine in Timika District, Central Papua.
His body was recovered Saturday (September 20) at around 08:45 a.m. local time after days of difficult search efforts in a narrow, wet area.
“Initially, we only heard about the incident from the news. We couldn't reach Wigih until the company gave us official confirmation,” said Rohmat, Hartono’s brother-in-law.
Originally from Tulungagung, Hartono had lived in Ponorogo with his wife and two sons, aged 3 and 12. He had worked at Freeport for seven years and had recently returned to Papua after a two-week leave.
His wife and relatives traveled to Papua to retrieve the body. He will be buried in NambakVillage, Bungkal Subdistrict, Ponorogo District. “If there are no delays, his body will arrive in Ponorogo tonight and be buried immediately,” Rohmat said.
Seven workers were initially trapped in the landslide, caused by a collapse of wet material in the deep underground mining zone.
Rescuers on Saturday also recovered the body of Irawan, 46, from Cilacap, Central Java. Both bodies were found intact at the same location under heavy debris, according to Mimika Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Billyandha Hildiario Budiman.
Forensic teams conducted autopsies before the remains were flown home.
Five workers remain missing. Rescue teams are using remote-controlled loaders, drills, and drones, but progress has been slow due to unstable ground and the large volume of wet material.
“This is the largest volume of active wet material we’ve ever faced,” said Katri Krisnati, Freeport’s VP of Corporate Communications.
“We will not give up. Every effort is being made,” she said.
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Translator: Destyan HS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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