Burkina Faso probes cause of mine flood

OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Faso’s government has launched a judicial investigation into a flood at a zinc mine that left eight workers trapped, with rescue efforts entering a third week, it said.

Canada-based Trevali Mining Corp suspended operations at its Perkoa mine on April 16, when heavy rain caused flash floods and left eight workers missing underground. Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing, it said yesterday.

Burkina Faso Prime Minister Albert Ouedraogo said that managers of the mine had been banned from leaving the country while investigations were under way into the cause of the accident.