PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Contact has been established with the miner trapped underground at the Gosowong operation, in Indonesia, gold miner Newcrest Mining reported on Wednesday.
Newcrest MD and CEO Sandeep Biswas said that contact with the miner was established through a small diameter hole drilled through 54 m of ground, with the miner confirming that he was in good health and spirits.
“We are now preparing to send down additional water and food, as well as a communication link,” Biswas said.
“While this is a pleasing development, a lot of work remains to be done to get the miner to safety. We are drawing upon expertise and assistance from other mining companies and specialist advisers who have led similar underground rescue efforts around the world.”
Biswas was unable to give a timeframe as to how long the rescue operation would last.
The miner was trapped some 300 m underground following a geotechnical event at the Gosowong mine on Monday.
Operations at the mine have been suspended.