R

escue workers pulled four more bodies from the collapsed PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI)'s Big Gossan training facility in Mimika, Papua, as of Sunday.

The dead workers were identified as Joni Tulak, who was found on Saturday evening at about 10 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Jakarta time), while Aris Tikupasang, Viktor Sanger and Hengki Hendambo were discovered on Sunday at about 6:45 p.m. local time.

The body of Joni was taken to at the mourning house in Timika and is scheduled to be flown to his hometown in Buakayu in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi via the provincial capital of Makassar, a relative told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

'We received Joni's remains on Sunday morning at 7 a.m.,' Yohannis Burrang said from Timika.

The remains of the three other workers are being held at the Tembagapura Hospital.

There are already nine fatalities and Papua Police chief spokesman, Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumerta said so far 19 people were still trapped in the mine while 10 workers were injured. Five workers have been flown to Jakarta with the remaining five being treated at the Tembagapura Hospital.

The landslide hit the Big Gossan training facility on Tuesday and buried 38 PTFI workers. The company has ceased all production activities to focus on rescuing the trapped workers.

Meanwhile, PTFI vice president corporate communications, Daisy Primayanti said in a statement that Joni's family and friends had recited a religious service at the mine location on Sunday.

Daisy also said that the House of Representatives' Papua and Aceh Special Autonomy Monitoring Team visited the landslide site on Sunday.

Led by Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso from the Golkar Party, the team consisted of Manuel Kasiepo from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Jamaluddin Jaffar from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Peggi Patricia Pattipi from the National Awakening Party (PKB), M. Ali Kastela from the People's Conscience (Hanura) Party and Aus Hidayat from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

'Also visiting was Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold Inc President and CEO Richard Adkerson, who flew to Timika on Saturday evening,' Daisy said in the statement.

She added that Adkerson and PTFI president director Rozik B. Soetjipto had visited families of workers who were still trapped in the landslide location and the site itself.

'Rescue workers are working around the clock to save the remaining trapped workers but their effort is slowing down because they have to ensure safety by supporting parts of walls and ceilings in every meter [of the collapsing mine],' Daisy said in the statement.

Rozik had earlier said that PTFI would conduct a thorough investigation to find the cause of the tragedy.

'We will make use of international experts and involve the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry in the investigation,' he said, assuring that similar accidents would never happen again.

The initial investigation points to bad weather and subterranean vibrations as the cause of the landslide.