Sukari gold mine rockfall kills worker in Egypt

A rockfall at Egypt's Sukari gold mine killed one worker and injured five others, officials said on Sunday, and operations in the affected area were suspended pending an investigation.

Egypt's petroleum ministry said the accident happened inside a tunnel in an underground working section of the mine in the eastern desert region. The injured workers were taken to a hospital in the Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam, and the ministry said initial medical assessments indicated their conditions were stable.

Petroleum Minister Karim Badawy ordered a committee to investigate the incident, determine its causes, review health and safety procedures at the mine and recommend measures to prevent similar accidents.

The Sukari mine is about 30 kilometres southwest of Marsa Alam. It is operated by Sukari Gold Mines Company, a joint venture between the Egyptian government and AngloGold Ashanti.