Latest news with #goldmine
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Shooting at a Central African Republic gold mine run by Russia's Wagner leaves 11 dead
BANGUI, Central African Republic — A shooting at a mine controlled by the Russia-linked Wagner mercenary group in the Central African Republic killed at least 11 people, residents and aid workers said Friday. The victims were killed Wednesday night at the gold mine in Ndassima, about 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the country's capital of Bangui, the residents and aid workers told The Associated Press. Residents of nearby villages are forbidden access to the Wagner-controlled mine. Resident Serge Pounematchi, whose son was among those killed, said the victims were at the site searching for gold residue and gravel when they were summarily killed. He joined other villagers in holding funerals for the victims. 'It is a shame that the right to life does not exist,' Pounematchi said. Authorities did not yet confirm any details of the violence, and local officials did not immediately respond to inquiries. Two aid workers, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted, confirmed that the victims were young people from surrounding villages and that most were shot dead. Constantin Pounoukouzou, a resident of Ndassima, said some villagers are still missing. 'Unemployed young people have no choice but to go to this site at night (for) the gravel,' Pounoukouzou said. Wagner is often accused of carrying out rights abuses and extrajudicial killings with little or no accountability in Central African Republic, where it has pledged to fight rebel groups and restore peace. The mercenaries have served as personal bodyguards for Central African President Faustin Archange Touadera, helping him win a 2023 constitutional referendum that could extend his power indefinitely. Jean-fernand Koena, The Associated Press
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Shooting at a Central African Republic gold mine run by Russia's Wagner leaves 11 dead
BANGUI, Central African Republic — A shooting at a mine controlled by the Russia-linked Wagner mercenary group in the Central African Republic killed at least 11 people, residents and aid workers said Friday. The victims were killed Wednesday night at the gold mine in Ndassima, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the country's capital of Bangui, the residents and aid workers told The Associated Press. Residents of nearby villages are forbidden access to the Wagner-controlled mine. Resident Serge Pounematchi, whose son was among those killed, said the victims were at the site searching for gold residue and gravel when they were summarily killed. He joined other villagers in holding funerals for the victims. 'It is a shame that the right to life does not exist,' Pounematchi said. Authorities did not yet confirm any details of the violence, and local officials did not immediately respond to inquiries. Two aid workers, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted, confirmed that the victims were young people from surrounding villages and that most were shot dead. Constantin Pounoukouzou, a resident of Ndassima, said some villagers are still missing. 'Unemployed young people have no choice but to go to this site at night (for) the gravel,' Pounoukouzou said. Wagner is often accused of carrying out rights abuses and extrajudicial killings with little or no accountability in Central African Republic, where it has pledged to fight rebel groups and restore peace. The mercenaries have served as personal bodyguards for President Faustin Archange Touadera , helping him win a 2023 constitutional referendum that could extend his power indefinitely.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Colombian gold miners rescued after about 18 hours trapped underground
Eighteen workers trapped for about 18 hours in a gold mine in north-western Colombia have been rescued by emergency crews, the country's government has miners became stuck on Thursday in the El Minón mine, in Colombia's Antioquia region, after equipment failure, according to AFP news a 12-hour-long rescue operation, all the workers are in good health, Colombia's National Mining Agency (ANM) a letter sent to the government, the local mayor in Remedios said the mine was apparently unlicensed. The operation to free the miners finished at just after 03:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Friday, according to Colombia's energy of the rescue showed the miners' colleagues clapping and cheering as they climbed out of the mine shaft. Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners' association, told the AFP news agency that a mechanical failure caused the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, blocking the mine's main had to be given to the trapped miners through hoses while they waited to be rescued, local radio station ABC ANM said in a statement that it calls on the mining community to "refrain from illegal mining activities, which endanger the lives and safety of those involved and also impact the country's resources and the environment". Mining accidents are not uncommon in Colombia and dozens of deaths have been recorded in recent years.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Crews rescue 18 miners trapped in Colombia
REMEDIOS, Colombia: Emergency crews rescued 18 workers trapped in a gold mine in Colombia on Friday, the government said. 'They were all found to be in good health,' the National Mining Agency said on X after the 12-hour emergency rescue operation in northwest Colombia. The workers — who were trapped underground for about 18 hours because of an equipment failure — walked out of the mine one by one in blue jumpsuits and yellow helmets. They were greeted with cheers and hugs from colleagues above ground, who gave them energy drinks, TV footage showed. The workers became trapped on Thursday in a mine in the town of Remedios in Antioquia department. The mayor of Remedios said in a message sent to the government that the mine was apparently unlicensed. Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners' association, told AFP earlier that a mechanical failure caused the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, blocking the mine's main exit. Images released by the National Mining Agency showed rescuers with flashlights during their search efforts. The area around Remedios has a strong mining tradition. Gold extracted in the region is known to sometimes finance armed groups such as the Gulf Clan, a cartel also involved in cocaine trafficking. Coal mine accidents are common in Colombia, particularly in the central region where they claim dozens of lives each year.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Crews rescue 18 miners trapped in Colombia
Emergency crews rescued 18 workers trapped in a gold mine in Colombia on Friday, the government said. "They were all found to be in good health," the National Mining Agency said on X after the 12-hour emergency rescue operation in northwest Colombia. The workers -- who were trapped underground for about 18 hours because of an equipment failure -- walked out of the mine one by one in blue jumpsuits and yellow helmets. They were greeted with cheers and hugs from colleagues above ground, who gave them energy drinks, TV footage showed. The workers became trapped on Thursday in a mine in the town of Remedios in Antioquia department. The mayor of Remedios said in a message sent to the government that the mine was apparently unlicensed. Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners' association, told AFP earlier that a mechanical failure caused the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, blocking the mine's main exit. Images released by the National Mining Agency showed rescuers with flashlights during their search efforts. The area around Remedios has a strong mining tradition. Gold extracted in the region is known to sometimes finance armed groups such as the Gulf Clan, a cartel also involved in cocaine trafficking. das-cdl/fox/dw/gil
