Indonesia Shuts Down American Gold Mine to Investigate Tunnel Collapse

Freeport workers examining the Big Gossan incident site with Indonesian government representatives in Timika at the Grasberg mine, high in the mountains of rugged Papua province, May 19, 2013.

Indonesian authorities have ordered all production at an American-owned gold and copper mine halted while an investigation is conducted into a tunnel collapse last month.

A mining ministry official said on Monday an investigation into the collapse at Freeport McMoRan's Grasbergcopper and gold mine in eastern Indonesia would take three months, during which no production would be allowed.

Freeport workers were attending a safety training session on May 14, when the tunnel in an underground training facility collapsed.

Ten people managed to escape, five were killed instantly and 23 others were trapped inside and found dead later. Freeport suspended mining operations the day after the accident.