Fatal Dam Collapse Reported at Siberian Gold Mine

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The series of deadly dam collapses in an interior Siberian gold mine has led to floods, causing death of at least 15 people working for the mining company Sisim. The Russian federal investigators have arrested three company officials over the incident, reports said.

According to sources, the incident happened around 2 AM Moscow time Saturday. The highest of five dams collapsed first. The force of moving mass of water destroyed the others too, thereby resulting in flooding of mining encampment. Two dormitories of the camp were affected. Nearly 74 people lived in those camps, out of which 15 is feared to have died. In addition, 5 people are still missing. Nearly 16 people have been admitted to hospitals with injuries, out of which some injuries are serious.

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Nearly 100 other people living in the settlement were evacuated and shifted to temporary accommodation centres. Rescue efforts by emergency services are still on.

The preliminary investigation by the Investigative Committee of Russia has determined that all the five dams were built without any authorization. Furthermore, the mining foreman of the site had no mining qualifications. The federal investigators have questioned three company officials- the CEO of the company, as well as a senior manager and the foreman of the site.

Substandard construction standards and heavy rains are considered as the reasons for the dam collapse, Russian state news agency reported.