The government of Suriname has declared two days of national mourning, a somber acknowledgment of the lives lost in a mining incident that struck the Brokopondo district to the south of the country.
The government has decreed Thursday and Friday as days of national mourning.
Altered celebrations: Independence Day adjustments
The timing of this calamity has cast a shadow over the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, scheduled for November 25.
In light of the tragedy, the customary festivities have been modified, with a more subdued atmosphere prevailing across the nation.
Rising death toll: A grim update
As the nation grapples with the impact of the disaster, the Suriname Police Force issued an update on Wednesday.
The death toll, initially reported as 14, has now risen to 15.
The tragic incident
The disaster struck on Monday, approximately at 3 pm local time, when a mine shaft in the Brokopondo district collapsed.
Reports are that this catastrophe befell a group of illegal gold miners who were operating in the area, burying an unknown number of individuals.
Reports are that one person who has survived the incident has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in the capital.
The larger gold mining landscape
In Suriname, gold mining takes on various forms. Two industrial open-pit gold mines, operated by Newmont and Zijin Mining, are well-regulated contributors to the nation’s economy.
However, a significant portion of the industry remains unregulated, with artisanal gold miners, often referred to as “porknokkers,” engaging in large-scale illegal gold mining due to a lack of supervision.
Urgent call for regulation
The tragic incident has spurred renewed calls for effective regulation of the small-scale gold sector.
With an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people earning their livelihoods in the gold industry, including gold diggers from Brazil, it is imperative that steps be taken to prevent future disasters.
Presidential address: A nation in mourning
President Chandrikapersad Santokhi addressed the nation in a televised message after the tragedy, expressing condolences and empathy.
He described the situation as “a very serious one” and “a serious shock” for both the government and the nation at large. He vowed that the authorities would adopt a “stricter and tighter” approach to organizing the gold sector to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
Regional support: CARICOM sends condolences
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), based in Guyana, has extended its condolences to the government and people of Suriname in the wake of the tragedy.
CARICOM expressed its readiness to provide support for the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts and offered thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
