Six Feared Dead After Fatal Accident At Mineros Dredging Facility In Nechi, Colombia

Colombian mining company Mineros S.A. (TSX: MSA, CB: MINEROS) disclosed yesterday that on Saturday, a storm capsized the company’s floating dredging operation located near Nechi, Colombia on the Cauca River, leading to multiple fatalities.

According to the mining company, there were seven employees and an additional contractor on the floating facility when a storm brought strong winds and heavy rains to the area, overturning the facility. Two people were rescued uninjured, two were confirmed dead, and four more are missing and presumed dead in the strong currents of the Cauca river.

The company says that it has activated emergency protocols including mobilization of an emergency response team, notifications and collaborations with government authorities, and the initiation of a search and rescue operation.

Andrés Restrepo, President and CEO of Mineros, commented “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life at our Colombian operations. On behalf of the entire Company, I would like to extend our sympathy to the families, friends and coworkers impacted by this accident. We will continue to support all those affected; Mineros remains committed to the well–being of all of its personnel.”

Mineros is a Latin American gold mining company headquartered in Medellin, Colombia. The Company has a diversified asset base, with mines in Colombia, Nicaragua and Argentina and a pipeline of development and exploration projects throughout the region.

Above photo: Colombia’s Rio Cauca as seen from Santa Fe de Antioquia (photo: Loren Moss)