The rescue mission to free 13 workers trapped in a Russian gold mine has been called off two weeks after a devastating landslide – with all miners now presumed dead.
Workers have been stuck 500 feet underground since March 18, when a desperate rescue operation was launched at the Pioneer mine in the Amur region.
Russia halted operations on Monday due to the risk of another collapse, the TASS news agency cited mine management as saying.
“The lives of rescuers and mine employees participating in the operation are in mortal danger due to the high probability of repeated collapse of the rock massif and flooding in the underground workings, as well as collapse partial from the mine side,” the press service of Pokrovsky Mine JSC reported.
The Kremlin said all possible measures were taken to recover the miners before the rescue operation was halted.
Rescue mission to rescue 13 miners stranded in Russia’s Amur region canceled
Russia halted operations on Monday due to the risk of another collapse, mine management reportedly said.
There is a risk of collapse on the side of a quarry with a volume estimated at more than 70,600 tonnes.
The trapped miners – or some of them – were alive and banging on a ventilation pipe to communicate with rescuers on March 18. They are now all presumed dead.
There is a risk of collapse on the side of a quarry with an estimated volume of more than 70,600 tonnes, reported RIA.
The threat of a breakthrough of the watered rock mass accumulating in the quarry basin also remains present and would be impossible to pump due to the danger to the lives of specialists, the press release added.
“The results of the exploratory drilling of five wells in all underground horizons where people could be found show that the underground workings are filled to their full depth with rock mass, clay, ice and water,” added the Press service.
The decision to stop the rescue mission was taken by the accident liquidation manager, based on the recommendations of the technical council.
The head of the technical council consists of representatives of specialized design institutes, the Pioneer Mine, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Military Mine Rescue Unit”.
Pokrovsky Mine JSC reported that the families of miners trapped under the rubble will receive a one-time payment, corresponding to the amount of the annual salary for each family member.
They would also receive a monthly child allowance equivalent to an average monthly salary until the age of 18.
Workers have been trapped 500 feet underground since March 18.
On March 25, the general director of the gold mine was arrested for violating safety regulations.
The Kremlin said all possible measures were taken to recover the miners before the rescue operation was halted.
The threat of a breakthrough of the watered rock mass which accumulates in the quarry basin also remains present.
The Pioneer mine is one of Russia’s largest gold mines in terms of capacity, Russian media reported.
This comes after some 25 mountain rescuers from the Neryungri mountain rescue paramilitary section of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry were transported to the site from Zeya district two weeks ago.
A Mi-8 helicopter was also stationed near the mine in case of emergency, the ministry said.
Some of the trapped miners could then be heard banging on a ventilation pipe to let rescuers know they were alive, but two weeks later they are now presumed dead.
Russian state investigators have opened a criminal case for violating safety rules at the mine, but officials did not immediately say what caused the accident.
On March 25, the general director of the gold mine was arrested for violating safety regulations, investigators in the Amur region of Russia’s Far East said.
“The general director was arrested in the Amur region on suspicion of violating safety requirements during the operation of the Pioneer mine,” said the Russian Investigative Committee charged with investigate major crimes.
Footage released by the committee showed the chief executive with a blurred face as they were informed of the accusations.
They face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
The Pioneer mine is one of the largest gold mines in Russia in terms of capacity.