Gold Mine in Russia’s Amur Region Faces Crisis as 13 Workers Trapped by Rising Floodwaters

Trapped Miners in Pioneer Gold Mine in Russia

A gold mine in Russia’s Amur region, known as Pioneer mine, faced a tragic incident on March 18 when 13 workers were trapped following a rock collapse. Pioneer is recognized as one of the largest mines in Russia.

Flooding Situation at Pioneer Mine

According to Russia’s state-run RIA news agency, the mine is almost completely flooded, posing a significant challenge to the ongoing rescue efforts.

Rescue Operations and Challenges

Rescue efforts at the mine were halted due to the risk of another rock collapse, as reported by the TASS news agency. The country’s emergencies ministry announced that emergency workers are investigating water deposits in four shafts to assess the full depth of the mine before deciding on the next steps.

Director Arrested Over Safety Violations

The managing director of Pioneer mine was arrested for safety violations, as reported by The Moscow Times. The director was detained in the Amur region on suspicion of breaching safety regulations during mine operations.

Videos released by the Investigative Committee showed the managing director being informed about the charges, with potential imprisonment of up to seven years if found guilty.