Gold mine evacuated after flash

RENO -- Newmont Mining Corp. safely evacuated dozens of miners from an underground gold mine in northeast Nevada on Tuesday after an electrical flash triggered an emergency response.

Newmont spokeswoman Mary Korpi said that all 79 of the miners were accounted for and that no injuries were reported at the Leeville mine the Denver-based company owns and operates in Eureka County, about 300 miles northeast of Reno.

"All the miners are safe on the surface," she said..

The miners initially were sent to underground refuge chambers after one observed the flash at an electrical load center about 5:30 a.m. approximately 1,500 feet below the surface of the mine, Korpi said.

Newmont spokesman Matt Murray described a load center as a large surge protector for the 480 volts of power running into the mine, which employs more than 300 workers.

"It was similar to what you would see with a welding flash," Korpi said. "The alert miner went and shut down that power source and notified the emergency teams."

The crews released a "stench," a powerful odor that flows throughout the mine to notify workers to report to the refuge areas, or safety bunkers, with communication links to the surface, she said.

The decision to evacuate the mine was made about 10 a.m. after rescue teams inspected three different load centers and determined it was safe for them to return to the surface through a mine shaft, she said.

"It really is an example of a safety system that worked because a very alert employee knew what to do," Korpi said.

Mining operations will not resume until officials complete an electrical inspection of the mine, Korpi said.