Rope access rescue teams at ALROSA’s Mir mine in Yakutia are now trying to locate the eight miners still missing after the underground mine flooded via drill holes in the side of the adjacent open pit.

The rescue teams have begun an attempt to descend 450 metres down the sheer walls of the adjacent open-pit mine, which is no longer in use and signalling through the air holes located at the middle tunnel portal, which is let into the side of the open pit.

The teams are also trying to work out ways to reach the signalling drill holes let into the open-pit’s side.

Sixty-man rescue teams have been pressed into service, with a total of 330 people and 30 equipment units being involved in the search. The open pit is now flooded with an estimated 300,000 cubic metres of water and some of this leaked into the underground mine on Friday last.

There were 151 personnel underground when the water incursion took place and 142 were almost immediately rescued. One man was rescued on Saturday, while eight still remain unaccounted for.

https://www.gemkonnect.com/news/alrosa-seeks-missing-miners-through-drill-holes-open-pit-side