Kumtor mine incident. Search complicated by large volume of dumps

14:34, 03 декабря 2019, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Aida DZHUMASHOVA

To save missing employees of Kumtor Gold mining company, 94 rescuers, search dogs and other specialists are involved in the search. The Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan Kalys Akmatov told.

According to him, search work continues, including at a possible location of Kumtor employees.

«Employees of the State Ecological and Technical Safety Inspectorate carried out reconnaissance of the area and installed devices in the most dangerous places of possible movement of mountain dumps. Representatives of the State Agency for Environmental Protection take samples and provide information three times a day. It is not possible to reach the place of possible location due to the large masses of mountain dumps. We plan to get there until the evening,» said Kalys Akmatov.

A dramatic failure occurred at Kumtor mine at the Lysii waste rock dump at approximately 5:43 a.m. on December 1, 2019. Kumtor initiated an emergency evacuation of all mine personnel from the area and an immediate cessation of mining operations.

Two Kumtor employees went missing: a bulldozer driver and a foreman who were on the night shift.