6 Workers Reported Dead, 3 Injured in Georgia’s Mindeli Mine

Georgian media reports that 6 miners have died and at least three have been injured in Mindeli Mine, Tkibuli, Georgia, in a tunnel collapse.

As reported, the injured miners have been transferred to Kutaisi hospital, while works to remove the bodies from the mine are underway.

Georgia’s First Vice-Premier and the Minister of Economy, Dimitry Kumsishvili, is on his way to Tkibuli.

“The Technical and Construction Supervision Agency of the Ministry of Economy and the representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Imereti Regional and Local Self Government are mobilized at the scene,” the Ministry stated.

According to the Interior Ministry, an investigation has been launched into the case under the second part of Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which implies a violation of safety rules in mining, construction or other works. The offense envisages up to 5 years of imprisonment.

The representatives of the Labor Inspection Service of the Ministry of Health say the accident happened at 4am on April 5.

Another tragic incident also happened in Georgia’s Shukruti Mine, Chiatura on March 26, which claimed the life of  45-year-old Zaza Abramishvili.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: mining.com

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