Operations at Papua New Guinea's massive Ok Tedi copper mine remain suspended after the death of a worker on Thursday.
The Ok Tedi mining company says a section of rock and dirt fell from the mine's western wall into a sump, where a worker who was at the bottom attending to pit training was unable to clear the flowing debris.
Ok Tedi mine, Papua New Guinea Photo: Dev Policy
It says an investigation has commenced and mining operations will remain suspended until further notice.
The mine, which employs about 800 people, only reopened two weeks ago, after operations were last year suspended for eight months with management attributing the move to the prolonged drought.
The mine, which is dependent on the Fly River for the shipment of its copper concentrate out and bringing in of fuel and supplies, was unable to operate as river levels dropped.