Gold Ridge Mining Ltd (GRML) says the person whose body was recovered from the debris this morning following Monday’s ground collapse entered the mine site illegally.
Police identified the man as Ashley Olo from the nearby community of Mamasa in central Guadalcanal.
His body has been handed back to relatives today for burial.
“We’ve received reports that this individual had unlawfully entered at night the mine’s exclusion zone, despite clear warnings and barricades,” GRML said in a statement issued tonight.
It added the ground collapse occurred at the north-west edge, in the non-operational section of Open Pit 1. It’s there that Olo’s body was recovered.
GRML says they are cooperating fully with the police in conducting a thorough follow-up investigation.
“The safety and wellbeing of GRML employees, contractors, and surrounding communities remains our highest priority.
“We strongly urge members of the public not to engage in unauthorised gold extraction or entry into restricted pit areas, as these zones are hazardous and strictly off-limits.”
Monday’s ground collapse, according to Gold Ridge, affected an estimated 100-metre section of the western access road leading into Pit 1.
It’s not clear at this stage how many bodies may be lying in the ruins.
Acting police commissioner James Aitorea said they are still assessing the situation and could not confirm the number of people who may be buried underground.
“It is still too early to confirm how many are still buried underground,” Aitorea said in a statement.
GRML, which operates the mine, said the tragedy does not affect any of its employees.
Victims, according to eye-witnesses, were non-mine employees who were engaging in unauthorised gold extraction inside the mine pits.
Aitorea said police and GRML security personnel were also working with nearby communities to move people away from Pit 1 to allow recovery teams to safely carry out their work.
He urged people living near the area to stay away from the site while recovery operations continue and investigations into the incident begin.
