Rescue mission to free 13 trapped workers in Russian gold mine is called off two weeks after landslide - with all miners now presumed dead

The rescue mission to free 13 trapped workers in a Russian gold mine has been called off two weeks after a devastating landslide - with all miners now presumed dead.

The workers have been trapped 500ft underground since March 18, when a desperate rescue bid was launched at the Pioneer mine, in Amur region.

Russia on Monday halted the operation due to the risk of another collapse, the TASS news agency cited mine management as saying. 

'The lives of rescuers and mine employees participating in the operation are at mortal risk associated with the high probability of a repeated collapse of the rock mass and flooding in underground workings, as well as partial collapse of the pit side,' the press service of Pokrovsky Mine JSC reported. 

The Kremlin has stated that all possible measures were taken to retrieve the miners before the rescue operation was halted.

The rescue mission in place to save 13 trapped miners in Amur region, Russia, has been called off

Russia on Monday halted the operation due to the risk of another collapse, the mine management reportedly stated

There is a risk of collapse of the side of a quarry with a volume of more than an estimated 70,600 tonnes

The trapped miners - or some of them - were alive and knocking by banging on a ventilation pipe to communicate with rescuers on March 18. They are now all presumed dead.

There is a risk of collapse of the side of a quarry with a volume of more than an estimated 70,600 tonnes, reported RIA.

The threat of a breakthrough of the watered rock mass that collects in the quarry bowl also remains present, and would be impossible to pump out due to the danger to the lives of specialists, it added.

'The results of exploratory drilling of five wells into all underground horizons where people could be located show that underground workings throughout their entire depth are filled with rock mass, clay, ice and water,' the press service added. 

The decision to grind the rescue mission to a halt was made by the head of the accident liquidation, based on the recommendations of the technical council.

The technical council head is made up of representatives from specialised design institutes, the Pioneer mine, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise 'Militarised Mine Rescue Unit'. 

Pokrovsky Mine JSC reported that the families of miners trapped under the rubble will receive a one-time payment - making up the amount of an annual salary for each family member.

They will also reportedly receive a monthly payment for children in the amount of one average monthly salary until the age of 18.

The workers have been trapped 500ft underground since March 18

On March 25, the managing director of the gold mine was arrested over safety violations 

The Kremlin said that all possible measures were taken to retrieve the miners before the rescue operation was halted

The threat of a breakthrough of the watered rock mass that collects in the quarry bowl also remains present

The Pioneer mine is one of the largest gold mines in Russia based on capacity, Russian media reported

It comes after some 25 mountain rescuers of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's Neryungri paramilitary mountain rescue platoon were rushed to the site in Zeya district two weeks ago.

An Mi-8 helicopter was also stationed near the mine in case of an emergency, the ministry said.

Some of the trapped miners could at the time be heard banging against a ventilation pipe to let rescuers know they were alive, but two weeks on, they are now presumed to be dead.

Russian state investigators opened a criminal case into the violation of safety rules at the mine, but officials did not immediately say what caused the accident.

On March 25, the managing director of the gold mine was arrested over safety violations, investigators in Far East Russia's Amur region said.

'The managing director was detained in the Amur region on suspicion of violating safety requirements during operations at the Pioneer mine,' said Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes.

Footage released by the committee showed the managing director with a blurred face as they were informed about the charges.

They face up to seven years in prison if found guilty. 

The Pioneer mine is one of the largest gold mines in Russia based on capacity.