A worker has been fatally injured at Santacruz Silver Mining’s (TSX-V:SCZ) Tres Amigos mine, part of the Caballo Blanco Group of mines, in Bolivia.
The Vancouver-headquartered company says a small group of “illegal miners unlawfully entered” the mine above where the company was operating and proceeded to use explosives.
This caused a rockfall on the level below where Santacruz employees were working, and one person was fatally injured.
Santacruz says safety personnel were immediately notified and followed mine rescue protocols to close the mine, attend to all employees and remove the “illegal miners” from the area.
The mine has since restarted operations.
CEO Arturo Préstamo says Santacruz has initiated a detailed investigation and is working closely with the local authorities to prevent an incident like this from happening again.
“The company will consider taking legal action against those responsible once the investigation is complete,” he says.
Santacruz, which has a market capitalisation of C$150.7 million ($163.6 million), is focused on the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America.
The Bolivian operations comprise the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The company also has an operating silver mine in Mexico.
The Roundup
– One person fatally injured after an explosion set off a rockfall at Tres Amigos mine
– Santacruz says explosion was set off by “illegal miners“
– The company is considering legal action
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Santacruz Silver Mining
