Freeport Landslide Was Preventable, Not Just a Natural Disaster, Says Expert

3 hours ago 1

September 28, 2025 | 11:04 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A professor from the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Indonesia (UI), Fatma Lestari, asserted that the recent landslide at the Freeport Indonesia mine was not merely a natural disaster. She explained that the landslide, often termed a mud rush, is a known flow of mud and rocks from the mine cavity, a risk long associated with certain mining methods.

"In other words, this danger is not new and should have been anticipated from the beginning," Fatma stated in Depok on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Fatma suggested a comprehensive evaluation of the national safety system at the Freeport Indonesia mine. She noted that the September 8 landslide is a grim reminder of the 2013 tragedy in the Big Gossan area, which killed 28 workers.

According to the expert, who has received international awards in Occupational Health and Safety (K3), the recurrence of such incidents signals unaddressed weaknesses in the mine's safety system.

Five Steps to Strengthen Mine Safety

Fatma outlined five crucial steps that must be taken at the Freeport Indonesia mine:

Independent and Open Investigation: This must involve the government, safety experts, geologists, and workers' representatives.
Technical Improvements: Implementing practical measures such as regulating water flow, restricting hazardous zones, utilizing remote-controlled machinery, and installing automatic hazard warning systems.
Regular Safety Audits: Ensuring that safety measures are actively implemented on-site, not just documented on paper.
Enhanced Worker Training: Improving training that includes rescue exercises, affirming the right to stop work if conditions are dangerous, and conducting evacuation simulations.
Public Transparency: Announcing investigation results and improvement plans to the public to ensure confidence that worker safety is a genuine priority.

Fatma emphasized that the safety of mine workers must always take precedence over production interests. "This tragedy should be a momentum to strengthen the safety system, so that workers can return home safely every day," she said.

She also reminded that mining companies are required to implement strict safety regulations, covering management systems, emergency procedures, and the competence of mine managers. Internationally, the International Labor Organization (ILO) affirms the rights of workers to receive information, training, and protection when operating in high-risk areas.

Update from the Freeport Mine Location

Until last weekend, the underground mine rescue team (UGMR) of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) was still searching for five workers trapped in the landslide at the underground Grasberg Block Cave mine location in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua.

The team was reported to be digging from two access routes with additional supporting infrastructure, as the depth of the location and limited air supply posed challenges.

"Heavy equipment, including remote-controlled loaders, is used to minimize the risk for the rescue team," said Katri Krisnati, VP Corporate Communications of PT Freeport Indonesia, in a statement received in Timika on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Previously, the PTFI rescue team had successfully evacuated two workers on Saturday, September 20. Wigih Hartono and Irawan, who worked in the electrical section, were found deceased and have been buried in their respective hometowns.

The five workers who remain missing are identified as Victor Manuel Bastida Ballesteros, Holong Gembira Silaban, Dadang Hermanto, Zaverius Magai, and Balisang Telile. They are employees of PT Redpath Indonesia, two of whom are foreign nationals.

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