5 Freeport landslide victims found, 7 dead in total

After working relentlessly for 27 challenging days, the PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) Rescue Team together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mimika Police, Basarnas, and BPBD, on Sunday, October 5, 2025, found and evacuated five colleagues from the site of the wet material slide incident at the Grasberg Block Cave Underground Mine.

The five coworkers were found dead.

With this discovery, all 7 (seven) of our colleagues affected by the incident on September 8, 2025 have been found and the rescue process is declared complete. Previously, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, two colleagues were found.

Identification results by the medical team and the police confirmed that the five coworkers found in the final stages of the rescue were:

Mr. Zaverius Magai, PT Redpath Indonesia
Mr. Holong Gembira Silaban, PT Redpath Indonesia
Mr. Dadang Hermanto, PT Redpath Indonesia
Mr. Balisang Telile, South African citizen PT Redpath Indonesia
Mr. Victor Bastida Ballesteros, citizen of the Republic of Chile, PT Redpath Indonesia

The bodies will be taken to Jakarta and then transported to their respective hometowns, except for the body of Mr. Zaverius Magai who will be buried in Kuala Kencana, Timika.

President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia, Tony Wenas, expressed his deep sorrow for this loss.

"They are friends and part of the Freeport Indonesia family. This loss brings deep sorrow to all of us. On behalf of myself and the company, I extend my condolences to the families who have been in Tembagapura since September 14, 2025. May God Almighty give strength and fortitude to us all."

"I appreciate the Rescue Team who have worked tirelessly, day and night, in the midst of very challenging conditions. The rescue took a long time due to the difficult location and the volume of wet material reaching around 800 thousand tons. Thank you to all those who have provided support in terms of energy, thoughts, and prayers."

Landslide location of wet material at PT Freeport Indonesia (Photo: Humas)

PT Freeport Indonesia ensures full assistance to all families of departed coworkers, as well as respectful handling of the bodies.

The investigation process to determine the cause of the incident will continue in a thorough and transparent manner. The results of the investigation will be the basis for the company to implement preventive measures so that similar incidents do not occur in the future.