Timika, Papua, Sept. 11 -- PT Freeport Indonesia's Emergency Response Group (ERG) is still struggling to evacuate seven miners trapped in the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua, local authorities on Thursday.

Tembagapura Police Chief First Inspector Firman stated on Thursday that the company has deployed equipment to remove the wet mud that has inundated the GBC underground mine since Monday evening.

"Heavy equipment cannot enter the tunnel because as soon as it's lifted, the mud continues to flow forward. There's still a significant amount of mud," he explained.

In response, PT Freeport management is digging a new shaft to deliver food and establish communication with the seven workers tra...