Latest news with #miningaccident
New York Times
22-07-2025
- New York Times
Gold Miners Feared Dead in Congo After Landslide
A landslide at an informal gold mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo where thousands of people were working has left an unknown number of people trapped underground since Sunday. An official with the armed group that controls the area in eastern Congo where the mining accident occurred confirmed the landslide in a phone call on Tuesday. The official, Élie Rubabura, said that a team was searching for people in 14 shafts at the site in Lomera. While thousands of miners have been digging in Lomera in recent months, the number of miners who were in the shafts on Sunday is not known. Twelve people have been rescued, Mr. Rubabura, said, adding that the number of missing would be released only once the search was over. The Lomera site is an artisanal mine, meaning it is not operated by a mining company with professional equipment but by workers who use basic tools to extract ore, often in dangerous conditions. Official information on any casualties and exactly how many people are missing has been difficult to confirm. Lomera is in territory controlled by M23, a militia backed by neighboring Rwanda. After the landslide, M23 shut down all mining and trading in Lomera until further notice, prompting many people to leave the village. On Tuesday, M23 members walked around the site issuing instructions to those who remained, telling them not to film or speak to journalists. There was no sign that a serious search for survivors was underway. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- 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
18-07-2025
- 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.
Russia Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Gold miners killed in pit collapse in war-torn Sudan
At least 11 miners have been killed and seven others injured in a partial gold mine collapse in war-torn Sudan's eastern Nile State, according to local officials. The incident occurred over the weekend at the Karsh al-Fil mine in the Houeid desert area, Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC), the state-owned mining corporation which is overseeing the project, said on Sunday. The injured have been hospitalized, SMRC noted in a statement issued after an emergency meeting was held in response to the collapse. The company added that it had previously halted excavation activities at the site and warned informal miners against continuing operations there due to the 'high risk to lives.' According to the latest World Gold Council data, Sudan ranks as Africa's fifth-largest gold producer, with a production volume of 73.8 tons in 2024. Roughly 85% of the country's output reportedly comes from artisanal mining. Gold mining accidents are common in the African state, particularly in remote desert regions where safety standards are allegedly minimal. In December 2021, at least 38 miners were killed when a disused mine collapsed in West Kordofan State, according to official reports. In April 2023, 14 died in a similar incident in Northern State. Sudan has been mired in a civil war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Both groups have been accused of exploiting gold-rich regions to fund their operations. A report published by the Yale School of the Environment in March claims that gold smuggling and informal mining have increased in Sudan as a result of the ongoing armed conflict. The publication notes that threats of famine triggered by the fighting have pushed many civilians to engage in small-scale gold mining, where they risk their lives using toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide to extract the metal.
CTV News
18-06-2025
- CTV News
Fundraiser aims to help young sons of man killed underground at northwestern Ont. mine
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help two young boys whose father was killed Monday at a gold mine in Red Lake. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help two young boys whose father was killed Monday at a gold mine in Red Lake. 'My name is Laura, and I am heartbroken to share that my nephews, Jaycen and Jagger Korppi, lost their father in a tragic mining accident on June 16,' Laura Forrest wrote on the campaign page. 'The loss of their dad has left an unimaginable void in their lives, one that no amount of words can fill.' Their aunt said that 'Jaycen and Jagger are two incredible boys who were the absolute pride and joy of their father.' 'Countless memories' 'He was their biggest supporter, attending all their football and hockey games, cheering them on from the sidelines, and instilling in them the values of hard work and dedication,' she said. 'They shared countless memories and dreams, all now left shattered by this sudden tragedy.' She launched the campaign hoping to raise $40,000 to ensure the boys receive 'the support they need as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.' Officials with West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. confirmed Tuesday that an employee working underground was fatally injured at the Madsen Mine in Red Lake on Monday. The Ministry of Labour said it is investigating the incident, adding that the worker died when he was struck by equipment underground. 'Our goal is to raise funds that will help cover their immediate needs, support their sports activities and provide emotional support as they heal,' Forrest said. 'The boys deserve to have a stable environment where they can continue to thrive despite this loss.' You can donate to the campaign by clicking here. Related: Worker killed underground at mine in Red Lake, Ont. Worker killed at New Gold mine in northwestern Ont.
