The owner of the mine released a statement about the incident
An employee was fatally injured early Wednesday morning at the Rainy River gold mine, located 65 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances, Ontario. New Gold Inc., the Toronto-based company that owns and operates the mine, stated the worker was operating equipment in an open pit when the incident occurred.
New Gold Inc. has suspended operations at the site following the accident. In the statement, the company expressed condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased worker.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development told CBC News that the worker sustained fatal injuries after being struck by material. The ministry has launched an investigation, with two inspectors arriving at the site on Wednesday afternoon.
A report from CBC News noted the mine has been operating since 2017. This incident marks a serious event for New Gold, which has previously faced regulatory issues. In 2016, the company was fined $100,000 for failing to meet conditions related to the incomplete Teeple Dam. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry had noted that water overtopping the dam led to sediment entering a downstream river.
The investigation into the latest incident is ongoing, and further details are expected as the probe progresses.
