Rockfall at Egypt’s largest gold mine kills worker, injures five

A rockfall at Egypt's largest gold mine resulted in the death of one worker and injuries to five others, officials announced on Sunday. The incident occurred in a tunnel of the Sukari gold mine, located in the eastern desert region of Egypt, as revealed in a statement from the petroleum ministry. The injured miners were transported to a hospital in Marsa Alam, a Red Sea resort town, where their conditions were reported as stable after initial medical evaluations.

The petroleum minister, Karim Badawy, responded by ordering the establishment of an investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident, review the mine's health and safety protocols, and propose measures to prevent future occurrences. The Sukari mine, which is operated by Sukari Gold Mines Company, a joint venture between the Egyptian government and AngloGold Ashanti, is estimated to produce around 500,000 ounces of gold annually, contributing significantly to Egypt's economy.

Situated approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Marsa Alam, the Sukari mine is a flagship project in the Egyptian government's strategy to broaden the mining sector and entice foreign investment. Mining accidents are infrequent in Egypt, a country where substantial modern mining activity is primarily centered around the Sukari gold mine.