Glencore: Two bodies recovered after mine accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Glencore today said that two bodies have been recovered after an accident at a copper mine owned by one of its subsidiaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rescuers are still searching for five unaccounted for individuals after a "geotechnical failure" this morning at the north wall of the open pit KOV mine run by Kantanga Mining.
Katanga has set up two emergency rooms to support the search and rescue operations. A support and counselling centre for the families of the affected individuals has also been placed in the nearby Kolwezi town.
The workers were believed to have been working on the ongoing dewatering of the pit in the area nearby where the accident occurred.
Glencore added that an unknown amount of damage to the dewatering infrastructure in the pit is expected to have occurred.
"Katanga has mobilised its search and rescue team and the process of locating the unaccounted for personnel is in progress, as well as an assessment of the damage and recoverability of the affected infrastructure," Glencore said in a statement.
"The families of the missing workers are in the process of being contacted and will be offered full support."