In Suriname, miners are trying to rescue people trapped in a gorge after a landslide
In Suriname, 14 people died after being buried in a tunnel used by miners. The collapse of the structure occurred at a mine owned by a company in the country controlled by a Chinese company, Zijin Mining, according to Surinamese government authorities.
With government rescue teams slow to arrive, the bodies were removed by other miners, according to the country’s Disaster Management Coordination Center.
A search team will look for any additional bodies that may be buried there.
Suriname’s President Chan Santokhi declared national mourning over the deaths.
The mine is owned by Rosebel Gold Mines, which was acquired by the Chinese company Zijin in February this year. Rosebel said it regretted the deaths and had attempted to remove the miners from the site.
Rosebel says she has been talking to the Surinamese government for some time and has already said that there are risks to people there.
Before Rosebel was sold to the Chinese, it was owned by a Canadian company, the mining company Iamgold Corp. This Canadian company sold Rosebel after a confrontation between miners and police.