Experts have drilled a 53-meter-deep well at the Pioneer mine in the Amur region as part of a rescue operation for 13 miners believed to be trapped underground. The information was shared by the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia. In ongoing updates, the ministry confirmed that rescuers reinforced the rock mass source areas by covering them with soil and removed an additional 160 cubic meters of displaced material from the site. The ministry also noted that rescue teams arranged the necessary area and materials to construct concrete waterproof lintels and began drilling two exploration wells from the surface into the mine workings.
According to the Ministry, two drilling rigs were active in the field. The first bore aims toward a location that will establish direct communication with the miners, while the second is intended to reach a horizon closer to where rescuers expect to gain access. The ministry explained that these efforts will enable a more precise assessment of conditions inside the mine and help coordinate the rescue operation.
On March 18, a rock collapse occurred at the mine of the mining and hydrometallurgical plant in the Amur region. Rescue teams reported the incident happened at an underground work site, with 13 workers present at depth near 125 meters. They were employed by a contracting company engaged in mining and capital mining tasks. At the time of reporting, contact with people buried in debris had not yet been established.
President Vladimir Putin accepted the briefing from Alexander Kurenkov, head of the Ministry of Emergencies, and Vasily Orlov, the governor of the Amur Region, regarding the collapse at the mine and the ongoing rescue operation. The seriousness of the situation prompted a direct line of communication between federal authorities and regional leadership to ensure coordination and resources.
In a separate note, two skiers were hospitalized following a sprint at the national championships. The incident occurred during the event and has been acknowledged by the organizers and medical teams as they continue to monitor the athletes involved.