TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - Four workers from PT Freeport Indonesia in Mimika were found dead duing the lanslide evacuation process. "Until Wednesday, the team managed to evacuate 14 people, 10 of them survived," said CHief Commissioner I Gde Sumerta Jaya from the Papuan Police Department.

The landslide occurred when 41 mining workers were having a training in a classroom at the Underground QMS of Biggosan Mill 74, Freeport Indonesia. They were trapped in ruins until 14 of them were evacuated, leaving the rescue team with 27 others to look for.

Sumerta said that the 10 survivors were Muhtadi, Kenny Wanggai, Ahmad Rusli, Msen Andreas Lambert, Florentinus Kakupu, Alham, Leonardus Sparta, Hasbullah, Towali, and Rudi Sitorus, while the dead workers were identified as Matius Marandov (Biak Tribe), Selpianus Edowai (Paniai/Mee Tribe), Yopinus Tabuni (Dani Tribe), and Aan Nugraha.

"The distance from the mining area entrance to the landslide location is around 500 meters, extremely far," said Sumerta.

He also said the the rescue was delayed due to another landslide caused by the evacuation machinery.

Didi Agus Prihatno, the Head of Papuan Disaster Management Agency confirmed that the incident was a pure working accident, not a natural disaster.

JERRY OMONA | CUNDING LEVI