Burkina Faso: difficult pumping operations to save miners in Perkoa
Audio 01:29
Rescue operations for miners trapped in the Perkoa mine continue on May 13, 2022. © ANNE MIMAULT/REUTERS
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Burkina Faso, the water level is slowly dropping in the Perkoa mine in the center-west, where eight people are still missing after a flood.
It remains about 5 meters to reach the roof of the chamber of refuge.
Despite the difficulties encountered by the rescuers, the support system is being strengthened every day on the spot.
Yaya Budani.
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To raise the water from the bottom of the mine to the surface,
you need several pumps
on a line, according to Sabo Boukari, the technical team manager: "
It's relays with several pumps that are installed to be able to send up to 'on the surface.
The difficulty is that if a single pump fails in the chain, the whole system is shut down.
»
Several technicians are mobilized, such as the volunteer Babou Bama, a retired ex-worker to restore the broken down pumps.
“
There are pumps breaking down and as this is my field, I asked if I could be allowed to help those on the ground.
There were old pumps they used and pumps that were damaged by
"drowning".
So we are in the process of revising them to put them into service at night.
»
Still unable to dive
Divers are still waiting for the green light from water analysis laboratories.
The national water office took a new sample for a counter-analysis.
Lieutenant Sidi Stephane Nana, coordinator of the firefighting team explains: "
The problem of visibility is not solved since we don't even have the devices that allow us to see in the water, given it's muddy water.
And we do not know what it contains in terms of chemicals.
»
►Also read: The concern of the families of the miners trapped in Perkoa
The water level has dropped again.
The health care team has already set up its headquarters on the site.
Several ambulances are on site.
Location of the Perkoa mine, in Burkina Faso.
© RFI
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Burkina Faso