In an update released yesterday (August 21) concerning the ongoing rescue operations at Mir mine, Siberia, Alrosa has announced that the water volume in the open pit was 13,400 cubic meters, and water level in the mine shaft was at mark -250.05 meters. The flooding accident occurred on August 4, and eight miners are still missing.
According to the statement, quoted by Diamond World, “attempts a day earlier, to control the water discharge by a number of focused explosions aimed at expanding the gap between the open pit and underground mine, brought no results”. Additionally, “there remains a threat of flooding of the group of pumping units on level –210, and failure of electric power, ventilation, and lighting systems in case of immediate water discharge from the open pit mine. In this situation, any underground works are prohibited by federal norms and regulations in the sphere of industrial safety”.
As of yesterday, and following a decision made a day earlier in an emergency committee, works related to the controlled discharge of water by focused explosions were to continue.
