Fire breaks out at Highland Gold Russia mine

Moscow, Sept 7: Fire broke out today at a gold mine in Russia's Eastern Siberia owned by London-listed Highland Gold Mining, trapping up to 19 workers underground, Russia's Emergencies Ministry said.

A ministry spokeswoman said that altogether 48 people were in the gold mine in the Chita region, bordering China, when the fire erupted at a depth of 85 to 135 metres.

Rescue workers safely evacuated 29 of them.

''Yes, it's our mine,'' said a Highland Gold spokeswoman.

The fire broke out in the central shaft of the Darasun mining complex, local and company officials said. ''The situation is complex and we are monitoring it every 15 minutes,'' a second Highland Gold official said.

Chita's regional authorities said the fire was severe, and those trapped underground were believed to have taken refuge in a horizontal tunnel. It was not possible to contact them.

The Darasun mine, the smaller of Highland Gold's two main gold projects in Russia, produced 11,761 ounces of gold in the first half of this year.

Highland Gold has forecast total gold output this year of 180,000-185,000 ounces. The company is one-fifth owned by Canada's Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold miner.

REUTERS

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