The Mineral Resources Department has revealed the preliminary findings on the cause of death of a 37-year-old man at the Vatukoula Gold Mine last week.
The miner fell in a sinkhole at the Vatukoula Gold Mine last Wednesday.
Permanent Secretary Malakai Finau confirmed to FBC News that a board of inquiry was set up by the Mineral resources department last week to investigate the cause of death and it was due to soft ground.
“Because the preliminary findings indicates that there were some soft ground which led to the miner falling in the sink hole so it’s been secured to ensure that it is safe.”
Work at the mine where the tragic incident took place has been ceased and Finau says the areas where they’ve detected the soft ground wasn’t identified earlier.
“That’s quite a depth, it occurs at the 18th level and the 18th level is approximately some six hundred to seven hundred meters below the surface.”
Finau says findings from the Board of Inquiry investigation will also determine the safety of work carried out at the Vatukoula Gold Mine.
The Department has confirmed details of the Inquiry’s investigation will be released this week.
