In the Kuraginsky district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, a dam broke out, as a result of which two workers' dormitories were flooded, which could accommodate up to 80 people. According to the latest data, 13 dead, 14 injured are reported, and the fate of 15 workers remains unknown.
“At 02:00 (Moscow time), information was received that in the area of the Shchetinkino settlement of the Kuraginsky district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory on the Ceiba River, the dam of the technological reservoir of the gold mining artel was destroyed, as a result of which two working dormitories of the temporary type were flooded in the existing working village,” they said the press service of the regional Ministry of Emergencies.
All emergency services from the nearest city, Artyomovsk, which is about 60 km away, were sent to the place of emergency. According to TASS, about 270 people and about 50 pieces of equipment, including aviation, were involved in the response.
In addition, more than 100 police officers have been sent to the mine, who are called upon to ensure the protection of public order, protect the property of citizens, suppress the facts of looting and provide assistance to victims.
We add that the situation was taken under personal control by the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Uss. He flew to the scene of the tragedy.
“The injured are delivered with bruises and fractures”
According to the emergency department of the Kuraginsky district hospital, the condition of the victims is mild and moderate.
“These are bruises and fractures. Now they are being taken by ambulances to the hospital, ”TASS doctors explained.
Three victims have already been delivered to the building of the medical facility. At the same time, five ambulances are involved in transporting people. Sanitation helicopters are not used because they have nowhere to land near the emergency site.
- © Press service of the Ministry of Emergencies
We add that in connection with the breakthrough of the dam, a “hot line” was also opened on the basis of the main department of the Ministry for Emergencies in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Criminal case
Investigators opened a criminal investigation into the death of workers at a gold mine in the Kuraginsky district. This was reported by the press service of the main investigative department of the IC of Russia in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia.
“A criminal case has been opened on the grounds of a crime under Part 3 of Art. 216 of the Criminal Code (violation of safety rules when conducting work, resulting in the death of two or more persons by negligence). An investigative and operational group is working at the scene of the incident, which included experienced criminologists and investigators to investigate particularly important cases, ”the report said.
In addition, the acting head of the regional headquarters, Alexei Eremin, left for the place.
Along with this, criminal investigators from the central office of the Investigative Committee were sent to the Krasnoyarsk Territory on behalf of the chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin. They are called upon to provide practical assistance in the investigation of a criminal case.
A representative of the region’s emergency services told RIA Novosti that the “main body of the dam is considered to be the“ wear of the dam ”.
Artisan dam
According to the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Uss, the destroyed dam belongs to the Sibzoloto holding, which is one of the largest gold mining companies in the Siberian Federal District. The company produces about 2 tons of gold per year in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in Khakassia.
The head of the region also assured that the families of the dead and injured will be provided with all the necessary assistance.
“We have the necessary regulations for this, financial means, but I’m sure that the amount of necessary assistance will be provided by this gold mining cooperative and the Sibzoloto holding,” Uss said on the Russia 24 television channel.
At the same time, the regional Minister of Ecology Pavel Korchashkin emphasized that if the company itself operates on the basis of a license, then the dam was not registered anywhere. RIA Novosti was also informed about this by the Yenisei department of Rostekhnadzor.
“The hydraulic structure is not included in the lists of supervised facilities of the Yenisei Directorate of Rostekhnadzor. No declared documents have been received, no pre-declaration examinations have been conducted. At present, our specialists have left for the place, ”the report said.
In turn, the head of the regional Cabinet Yuri Lapshin pointed out that the destroyed hydraulic structure was made in a handicraft way. In his opinion, the work was carried out "in violation of all conceivable and inconceivable norms."
The administration of the Shchetinkinsky Village Council also indicated that the mudflow wave that flooded the two workers' dormitories reached four meters in height.