A mudflow struck PT Freeport Indonesia’s Grasberg Block Cave underground mine in Tembagapura, Central Papua, leaving seven workers trapped, according to Kompas. Freeport, one of the world's largest copper and gold mining operators, immediately suspended operations to allow emergency teams to focus on evacuation efforts.

The incident occurred on September 8, at around 10 pm local time. By September 9, rescue teams made up of Freeport’s Emergency Response and Preparedness unit alongside the Underground Mine Rescue team were still working to clear access routes and reach those affected.

According to Katri Krisnati, Vice President of Corporate Communications at PT Freeport Indonesia, the evacuation has been complicated by blocked passages underground. Nevertheless, she stressed that the trapped workers remain safe. Supplies are being delivered while crews attempt to restore access. Katri confirmed that all other employees are unharmed and that operations will not resume until the seven workers are safely evacuated.

Mimika Police Chief, Commissioner Billyandha Hildiario Budiman, stated that his office continues to coordinate closely with the company during the emergency response.

Kompas also reports that similar natural hazards disrupted Freeport’s mining activities in the past. In February 2023, flooding damaged processing plants, conveyor systems, tunnels, and roads, although 14 workers were successfully evacuated without injury. However, two illegal miners outside the company’s concession lost their lives in the disaster. In August 2017, a landslide in the same mining district during heavy rain killed two workers.

These recurring incidents underline the need for Freeport to place equal priority on protecting its workforce and addressing the long-term environmental consequences of decades of large-scale extraction in the region.