MIOSCOW: Russian emergency workers concluded a rescue operation on Monday at the Pioneer gold mine in the country’s Far East, where 13 workers had been trapped for two weeks following a landslide on March 18. The mine, located in Russia’s Amur region near the Chinese border, witnessed a landslide that buried the miners more than 120 meters underground.
Despite initial efforts, search operations revealed that caverns where the miners could have sought shelter were flooded, raising concerns about their survival. Consequently, the decision was made to terminate the rescue operation on April 1 due to the challenging conditions. The operator of the mine, Pokrovsky Mine, cited the risk to rescuers and mine workers involved in the operation, emphasizing the danger posed by the possibility of further collapses.
The Pioneer gold mine, recognized as one of the largest in the world and among the most productive in Russia, now faces scrutiny as officials in the Amur region have initiated an investigation into a suspected breach of safety regulations. The managing director of the mine was arrested last week in connection with the incident.
Mining accidents are not uncommon in Russia, where lax safety standards and inadequate enforcement have contributed to numerous tragedies. In 2021, a coal mine accident in Siberia claimed the lives of 40 miners, highlighting the ongoing challenges in ensuring workplace safety within the mining industry.
