Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
The Cavalla River drains the border areas of Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia.
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalla_River
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Translation Google
Ivory Coast: nearly 185 cases of contamination linked to the pollution of a gold mine
In western Côte d'Ivoire, nearly 185 people were " slightly poisoned " after eating fish and drinking contaminated water following the dumping of mining waste from the Ity gold mine into rivers. This is the latest incident on Saturday, June 28 in a series of events around this mine operated by the Canadian group Endeavour Mining. No deaths have been reported and local authorities and the mining company assure that the risks have been contained.
Published on :03/07/2024 - 02:21
Modified :03/07/2024 - 02:23
By : RFI
With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne
In Ivory Coast , the valve of a pipeline used to evacuate mining waste cracked on Sunday, June 23. Nearly three cubic meters of mud and settling water then flowed into a diversion channel, over nearly five kilometers, " and a small part could have been discharged into the Cavally River ," claims the mining group.
Scientists from Ciapol, the Ivorian Anti-Pollution Center, dispatched to the scene collected nearly " 15 kg of dead fish ," said a source close to the case. The prefect of Zouan-Hounien counted 185 people suffering from diarrhea, bloating or vomiting after consuming water and fish.
A second incident reportedly occurred this Saturday, June 28
The mining company assures that this incident has since been contained. This group " categorically rejects the allegations of massive pollution of the Cavally River and endangerment of local populations " reads a press release. This company assures that it has shut down its treatment plant, repaired the damaged valve and carried out tests of the settling water and the river water.
But a second incident occurred on Saturday, June 28, according to Ciapol, which went there to take new samples. The results have not yet been made public, the Endeavour group assures that no other incident occurred.
While waiting to see more clearly, local authorities " have banned fishing and asked residents not to drink tap water ," said a local elected official.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240...amination-liés-à-la-pollution-d-une-mine-d-or
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In Ivory Coast, cyanide pollution confirmed in the Cavally River
Nearly 200 people were "slightly poisoned" after a cyanide-laced water leak from the Ity gold mine. Endeavour Mining Group announces the replacement of the faulty valve.
Young Africa
Published on July 3, 2024
Reading time: 2 minutes.
In Ivory Coast , nearly 200 people were "slightly poisoned" after eating fish from a river polluted by a leak of cyanide-laced decantation water from a gold mine at the end of June, authorities said . This is the Ity gold mine, in the Zouan-Hounien area (west), operated by the Canadian group Endeavour Mining, which denied any "endangerment" of the population.
"Massive fish mortality "
According to the Ivorian Ministry of the Environment, after analyses, it was the "rupture of a valve" of a pipeline which transported "muddy cyanide decantation water" from the exploitation of the mine which is at the origin of the pollution.
These waters reached an adjacent river before ending up in the Cavally River, the ministry continued, causing "vomiting and headaches" for local populations and "a mass mortality of fish".
According to a customary chief of Ouyatouo, Célestin Balla, "every day since the incident" people who have consumed water and fish "show signs of diarrhea, headaches and body aches."
The ministry and the prefect have stated that no deaths have been reported. "To date, the source of pollution has been brought under control by the mining company, which has undertaken to supply local populations with drinking water in the short term while awaiting the complete decontamination of the water, which is currently underway," the ministry continued.
The faulty valve was replaced
In a statement sent to AFP, Endeavour Mining "categorically rejects the allegations of massive pollution of the Cavally River and endangerment of local populations". The group does, however, acknowledge that an incident involving a "faulty valve" led to "a leak of approximately 3 cubic metres of mud and settling water into the site's diversion channel", of which "a small portion could have been discharged into the Cavally River".
Endeavour says it has replaced the faulty valves and has been "monitoring and testing" the river water to ensure there is "no contamination." Officials have urged people to refrain from eating fish and drinking river water until further notice.
(With AFP)
https://www.jeuneafrique.com/158395...au-cyanure-confirmee-dans-le-fleuve-cavally/