Search for workers trapped in Russia's Pioner mine ends - mine operator

BLAGOVESHCHENSK. April 1 (Interfax) - The rescue operation at the Pioner mine in Russia's Amur region, where 13 workers were trapped by collapsed rock two weeks ago, has been formally closed due to the risk of another rock collapse and information acquired from exploratory wells, the press service for Pokrovsky Rudnik, the Pioner mine operator, said.

"It was decided on April 1 to stop the rescue operation at the Pioner mine. The drilling shows that mine workings, where the miners could be found, are filled with rock and water. The lives of rescuers and mine workers involved in the operation are at deadly risk," the press service said.

The risk is posed by the possibility of another rock collapse and flooding of mine workings. Experts say a pit wall might collapse and over 200,000 cubic meters of earth might tumble down, the press service said.

"The threat of a breakthrough of the water-logged rock mass accumulating in the pit persists. The water cannot be pumped out for now, as that would risk the lives of specialists," it said.

The five holes drilled to search for people in the mine show that the workings are completely filled with rock, clay, ice and water.

"The mine is filled up to Level 85, and there are no people above it, which was reliably established during the first days of the rescue operation," the press service quoted Pioner First Deputy Managing Director Alexei Afanasyev as saying.

The chief of the mitigation headquarters decided to stop the operation at the recommendation of the technical board comprising representatives of three design institutes and centers, the Pioner mine, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, and the Paramilitary Mining Search and Rescue state enterprise.

Special equipment, including four rigs, and rescue teams from various parts of Russia worked at the incident scene.

On March 18, rock collapsed at a depth of more than 100 meters at the Pioner gold mine, trapping 13 miners inside. Several rescue teams from the country's regions and drilling hardware were brought to the site for rescue works.

The Amur region declared an emergency. Criminal cases were opened on counts of negligence and breach of safety regulations. The mine's managing director was taken into custody.