TIMIKA

Two miners were killed when the roof of a US-owned mine in restive Papua province collapsed on them, police said on Tuesday.

The men were working in an underground mine belonging to US mining giant Freeport McMoRan late on Monday when the roof collapsed, pinning them beneath earth and rocks, Mimika deputy police chief Mada Aksanta said.

“Our speculation is that mine blasting had caused the ceiling to collapse. We’re still investigating,” he added.

Rescuers have pulled out one body and are still searching for the other, Aksanta said, adding that police are also checking whether there were others working in the mine.

Freeport, which mines gold and copper, is the largest single taxpayer to the government.