Fire at Highland’s Darasun mine; at least 11 dead

A fire at the Darasun underground gold mine in the Chita region of eastern Russia has killed at least 11 mine employees and 22 miners are still missing.

Owner Highland Gold Mining (HGM-L) said rescue operations were continuing. Highland released the names of 11 miners but other reports said there was a 12th body recovered from underground. Most reports said the fire had been contained, though not extinguished everywhere.

The fire started early Sept. 7, and is believed to have been started by a welding accident in the mine shaft. Most of the dead workers were in jobs that would have been done close to the shaft, or on the welding and timbering crew.

There were 31 miners that managed to get out through other accessways. Mine rescue teams from Highland, from the national Ministry of Emergency Situations, and other Russian mines, were undertaking the rescue attempt, and officials remained optimistic about reaching trapped miners.

Barrick Gold (ABX-T, ABX-N) holds a 20% interest in Highland.