Five dams of LLC Sisim, a part of the Russian gold producer Sibzoloto, constructed illegally in the Krasnoyarsk region collapsed on October 19, flooding the workers’ settlement and killing at least 15 workers, according to the statements of the Investigative Committee.
Sisim produced alluvial gold on the Seiba River, and five dams of their technological reservoir broke through one after another on October 19. A mud stream flooded two temporary dormitories of workers, killing 15. Another five are still missing.
“It was discovered that the dams were constructed illegally without any permits in order to divert ground waters from the site of gold mining. The breaking through started with the upper dam, and the force of moving water flow destroyed another four hydro-engineering structures in the cascade,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
The mine foreman of Sisim who oversaw construction of the dams, had no special education, and was aware of the danger of building a workers’ settlement in the floodable area, investigators said.
The committee also said that law enforcers detained the Sisim’s CEO, the mine’s manager, and the foreman and took them to Krasnoyarsk for interrogation. (Prime/Ukrainian metal)