A video camera was lowered into a shaft at the Pioneer mine in the Amur region to observe the water surrounding 13 miners who were trapped for a week. The information comes from the press service of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia, as reported by RIA News.
Officials noted that access to the mine workings became possible through a newly opened well at the 243rd meter level. The well was inspected at the site for water using a video camera, according to the press service.
Authorities emphasized the danger posed by potential rock mass movement and the risk that the quarry’s overhanging side could collapse into the pit. The situation was described as fragile, with ongoing concerns about stability in the surrounding rock and the structural integrity of the mine faces.
Earlier reports indicated that rescue teams had employed a drilling rig to create access pathways and to reach the collapse site at Pioneer. The mine’s location and the nature of the collapse required careful engineering to minimize additional rock falls while attempting to locate and free those trapped.
On March 18, a rock collapse occurred at the Pioneer gold mine. Ministry of Emergency Situations data identified 13 people beneath the rubble. By March 20, a special board from the Ministry of Emergencies of the Russian Federation arrived in Blagoveshchensk with an extra rescue team and a group of engineers to assist in the operation.
Rescuers reported a high probability of flooding within the Pioneer mine, raising urgency for rapid assessment and relief measures. The developing situation prompted a coordinated response from regional authorities, emergency services, and technical specialists working to secure the site and evaluate safe entry points for rescue efforts. Throughout the operation, teams focused on stabilizing entrances, monitoring water levels, and deploying equipment suitable for underground rescue in challenging conditions.
In mine emergencies like this, the primary goals center on safeguarding the trapped workers, preventing further collapses, and controlling water intrusion. Teams typically establish multiple access routes, perform borehole tests, and use remote sensing to map voids and stress along the rock faces. Communication with the surface is maintained to coordinate medical triage, air supply, and logistical support as conditions permit. The situation often requires a combination of drilling, controlled blasting where permitted, and the careful use of heavy machinery to create stable paths for evacuation or rescue support. These operations are guided by strict safety protocols and continuous risk assessments to protect both the rescuers and those awaiting relief.