Aussie worker dies in Freeport landslide: Report

The landslide, triggered by a heavy downpour overnight, struck in an area controlled by mining giant Freeport Indonesia in the town of Tembagapura, the Jakarta Globe reported.

"The landslide hit a Ford pick-up truck driven by an Australian citizen. He was thrown into a 150m abyss", Papua police spokesman Commander Wahcyono said.

According to police, the victim was a mining contractor with the Indonesian arm of Canadian miner Redpath, but this was not immediately confirmed by the company.

Confirmation of the man's nationality is also being sought from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Emergency workers were also searching the area for other victims, according to the report. (*)