The European Union and Morocco offer to help Burkina Faso in the rescue operations of 8 minors

AA / Ouagadougou / Dramane Traore

The European Union and Morocco have offered their assistance to Burkina Faso in the search for 8 miners who have been stuck in the galleries of the underground zinc mine in Berkoua (Central-Quest) since April 16 after the floods, according to the government information service (GIS) announced Sunday morning.

The press release noted that “the European Union and Morocco are proposing to support Burkina Faso in this operation to rescue the eight Berkwa miners,” and noted that the Burkina Faso government had already passed on to its partners the list of needs, particularly in terms of technical equipment. …and in human resources, all of which undoubtedly can speed up the search for workers trapped in the mine.

The same source specifies that rescue operations for miners trapped in the vaults are continuing under the supervision of Ministers Jean-Alphonse Somme in charge of mines and quarries and Basulma Bazi from the civil service, labor and social protection.

On Saturday in Rio in Sangui (Central West), the two ministers chaired the daily meeting of the Regional Crisis Management Committee. Then they went to the mine site to see firsthand the progress of the flood pumping works.

“There has been significant progress in the search for miners stuck in the vaults of the zinc mine,” the general manager of Nantou Mining of Canada, which operates the zinc mine at Perkoa Hein Frey, said before the government delegation.

He pointed out that the shelter room where eight (8) miners were found is located at a depth of 580 meters.

As for the water drainage operations, it will reach a level of 550 meters on May 7, 2022, according to technicians.

The government confirmed that “the water evacuation process has increased thanks to the installation of two additional, more efficient pumps. These devices from Ghana have been eagerly awaited.”

“No effort is too big,” said Minister of Mines and Quarries Jean-Alphonse Sommet, who announced the arrival of other pumping devices from South Africa in the coming hours.

The minors still missing are six from Burkina Faso, a Tanzanian and a Zambian.

Last Sunday, on the occasion of Labor Day, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Albert Ouedraogo paid a visit to the site where he declared that the responsibility of the mine owners were involved in this tragedy.

He stressed that an investigation was opened and precautionary measures were taken, especially to prevent those responsible for the mine from leaving the country.

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