Flood waters have increased in an inundated diamond mine in eastern Siberia’s Sakha region, complicating a nearly week-long search effort for eight trapped miners, the Emergency Situations Ministry said on Thursday.
“The situation is complicated, multiple obstructions, large blockages of clay.
“Most of the excavations are completely flooded, but we are continuing the rescue effort,” Deputy Minister Vladlen Aksyonov said in a statement.
Specialised search teams with divers have been scouring the site since groundwater gushed through the rock into the mine around a depth of 210 metres last Friday.
More than 100 miners have reached safety.
No deaths have been reported but eight people were reported still missing.
Russian federal investigators have opened a criminal case into the incident on allegations of safety violations.
The mine is operated by one of the world’s largest diamond suppliers, Russia’s state-controlled Alrosa mining company.
In July the company recorded diamond sales amounting to nearly 300 million dollars.
(dpa/NAN)
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