A gold mine in far eastern Russia collapsed, leaving at least 13 miners trapped hundreds of feet underground. The incident took place at the Pioneer Mine in the Zeysk district in Eastern Siberia’s Amur region.
According to reports, the miners are stuck approximately 410 feet below the surface. Rescue efforts are underway, with teams attempting to reach the miners through a ventilation shaft.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that 13 miners were trapped, while the regional prosecutor's office suggested that up to 15 individuals could still be underground.
Efforts to restore communications and clear the transport slope are ongoing, as stated by the ministry. The Pioneer Mine is known as one of the largest gold mining operations in Russia in terms of processing capacity.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown at this time. Past mining accidents have often been attributed to safety rule violations.
