Fire: All Miners Accounted for And Being Evacuated

1030 hours – 17 July 2012

Underground Truck Engine Fire – All Miners Accounted for And Being Evacuated

At approximately 5.00am this morning a truck engine fire was reported from Newmont Waihi Gold’s Trio underground mine.

As per procedure all underground personnel went to refuge chambers and reported by phone to surface. All 28 personnel that were underground at the time have been accounted for.

As a result of the fire there is smoke coming out of the mine’s vent shaft on Union Hill.

The Trio mine is a hardrock gold mine and there is no risk of a mine explosion.

All mining operations at the mine have been halted.

The miners were gathered in 3 refuge chambers in different parts of the mine, and 2 of those chambers holding a total of 13 staff have already been evacuated to the surface by our Mines Rescue Team and are well. The remaining 15 staff are in the third refuge chamber and Mines Rescue are currently proceeding towards that chamber.

We have been notifying families and the local community since early this morning.

Three Newmont Waihi Gold Mines Rescue Teams are on site to assist with the evacuation. One of those teams is underground now, and two more are ready to assist. We have also been offered assistance from NZ Mines Rescue and Solid Energy.

All public inquiries for this event should be made to 0800 NEWMONT (0800 639-6668).

A press conference will be held at the Newmont Waihi Gold Offices at 43 Moresby Ave at 12 noon.

ENDS

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