Eight miners trapped for more than 30 days in a mine in Burkina Faso; The hope of saving them alive is fading by the day | Globalism

Rescue teams pump water from the mine to reach the shelter room (a place to house workers in the event of a landslide) in an attempt to save them alive.

But over time, hope of finding them alive dwindles. Among those arrested are six citizens of Burkina Faso, one from Tanzania and one from Zambia.

The company said that while most workers were able to leave the site safely when the water rose, the eight missing workers were below the 520 level (520 meters above the surface) at the time of the flood.

There are two security rooms stocked with food and water below this level, but it is unknown if any of the men gained access to them.

Ricus Grimbek, CEO of the Canadian company that runs the mine, Trevali Mining Corp.

He explained that “these rooms are not designed to be flooded. The rooms are designed to face landslides and when there is a toxic environment such as smoke.”

Last Sunday, rescuers were 3.5 meters from where the miners were believed to be sheltering.

Rescue teams say the process is progressing slowly as they need to pump 2.5 million liters of water per meter of depth. Your devices are also clogged.

Rescue team received New pumps and equipment from South Africa and Ghana To work faster and also consider sending divers.

But divers may find it difficult to see through the muddy waters of the mine.

Trevali Mining Corp. announced on April 16 that eight miners had “disappeared” after torrential rains inundated the Berkua zinc mine.

“After an evacuation alert after the site flooded, the miners were absent and the rescue operation began” with the help of firefighters and engineers, one of the miners explained.

The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Albert Ouedraogo, visited the mine and said that the tragedy rests on the shoulders of those behind it.

Ouedraogo announced an investigation to determine responsibilities and said that company employees would not be allowed to leave the country in the meantime.

Executives at Trivale Mining said the company was caught off guard by torrential rains during last month’s dry season in Burkina Faso.

“Given the dry season, obviously we’re not expecting this absolute rain,” said Heine Frey, Trevally’s vice president of operations. “It is not only us who have been affected, it is the communities around us that have been affected by the totally unexpected rain.”