In a harrowing incident at the Severouralsky bauxite mine (SUBR) in the Sverdlovsk region, part of UC Rusal, two miners found themselves trapped under rubble following a mining strike at the Kalinskaya mine. The event, which occurred at 4:22 a.m. on Monday, 25 March, led to a rock mass collapse, leaving the miners confined behind the debris.
Despite the perilous situation, the trapped miners managed to signal for help, sparking a swift response from rescue teams. Two units of the paramilitary mine rescue squad were promptly dispatched to the scene, joining the mine’s own efforts to clear the rubble and reach the trapped workers. Medics were also lowered into the mine to offer immediate assistance to the miners, ensuring they receive the necessary medical support amidst the ongoing rescue operation.
This incident underscores the inherent risks of mining operations and follows closely on the heels of another tragic event at the Pioneer gold mine in the Amur region. Just a week prior, on 18 March, a similar collapse claimed the lives of several miners, with ongoing search and rescue efforts revealing the potential flooding of the mine, complicating the situation further.
The SUBR mine, a crucial operation within UC Rusal’s extensive mining portfolio, now faces scrutiny as efforts to ensure the safety of its workers intensify. 
