Freeport-McMoRan has recovered the bodies of all seven workers who went missing after a mudslide at the Grasberg mine in eastern Indonesia — the world’s second-largest copper operation.
The last five bodies were found on Sunday, concluding a weeks-long search after 800,000 tonnes of wet material swept through the site in early September. One of the victims has been identified as Chilean national Victor Bastida Ballesteros.
“We are grieving for our seven coworkers lost in this tragic incident,” said Freeport chairman Richard C. Adkerson and CEO Kathleen Quirk, praising rescue teams for their efforts.
Freeport has declared force majeure on Indonesian shipments and sharply reduced production forecasts, warning that copper output in the fourth quarter will be “insignificant.” Sales guidance for 2026 has been cut by 35%.
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates the disruption will remove about 600,000 tonnes of contained copper from global supply through 2026 — roughly equivalent to Chile’s Collahuasi mine’s annual production.
The Grasberg tragedy adds to supply pressures following fatalities at Chile’s El Teniente mine and shutdowns in Peru. Copper prices have surged toward record highs amid tightening supply and a weaker dollar.
Freeport said it is cooperating with the Indonesian government to investigate what it called an “unprecedented” event. The mine remains closed pending the outcome.
