An illegal gold mining facility on the Seyba River, 255 kilometers south of Krasnoyarsk city, Siberia, that was destroyed by flooding from a dam burst on 19 October 2019. Photo: Ministry of Emergency Situations / Bloomberg
An illegal gold mining facility on the Seyba River, 255 kilometers south of Krasnoyarsk city, Siberia, that was destroyed by flooding from a dam burst on 19 October 2019. Photo: Ministry of Emergency Situations / Bloomberg

By Yuliya Fedorinova
19 October 2019

(Bloomberg) – A dam collapsed at a gold mine in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region, leaving at least 15 people dead, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said on its website.

The collapse happened at about 2 a.m. Moscow time near one of the small local gold mining companies’ operations, the ministry said. Another 13 people are still missing as emergency services continue rescue work.

The water damaged temporary shelters where miners were sleeping, the Moscow-based news agency Interfax reported, citing unidentified local officials. As many as 80 people were in the shelters at the time. The dam wasn’t registered with the Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service and was illegal, the newswire said, citing unidentified representatives of the watchdog. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the case. [more]

Dam Collapse at Siberian Gold Mine Leaves at Least 15 Dead

Aerial view of an illegal gold mining facility on the Seyba River, 255 kilometers south of Krasnoyarsk city, Siberia, that was destroyed by flooding from a dam burst on 19 October 2019. Photo: The Siberian Times
Aerial view of an illegal gold mining facility on the Seyba River, 255 kilometers south of Krasnoyarsk city, Siberia, that was destroyed by flooding from a dam burst on 19 October 2019. Photo: The Siberian Times

Dam burst in Krasnoyarsk region: 10 dead, another 10 missing, 14 injured, 130 evacuated

19 October 2019 (The Siberian Times) – A dam burst today in Krasnoyarsk region causing 10 deaths with another 10 people reported missing, feared dead.

At least 14 were reported injured and 130 evacuated after workers’ accommodation was flooded at 6am local time. 

The dam is at a gold mining facility on the Seyba River, 255 kilometres south of Krasnoyarsk city. 

The Emergencies Ministry said a major search and rescue operation was underway after the 6am calamity. 

‘Twenty people were injured, including six people who died and 14 people who were hospitalised. The fate of 10 other people remains unknown,’ said the ministry. [more]

Dam burst in Krasnoyarsk region: 10 dead, another 10 missing, 14 injured, 130 evacuated