Four bodies recovered in search for trapped Burkina Faso miners

Arthur Greene

Rescuers have recovered four bodies in the search for eight miners who became trapped in the Perkoa Zinc Mine in Burkina Faso which flooded on 16 April.

The remaining four miners have not been found, but at this point rescuers retain little hope for their survival.

On 17 May, searchers reached a rescue chamber 570 metres below ground, where they hoped they would find the workers, according to a Reuters report.

To their disappointment, the room was empty; its stocks of food and water, untouched.

Burkinabe government spokesman Lionel Bilgo confirmed the discovery of the four bodies in a statement on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, after 39 days of intense research, the lifeless bodies of four miners were found,” he said.

Earlier this month, South Africa sent pumps to the West African nation to aid in the rescue attempts.