Support The Moscow Times!

Sinkhole at Russian Uralkali Mine 'Gigantic' and Still Expanding

An aerial view shows a sinkhole 3.5 kilometers to the east of Solikamsk-2 mine in Perm region. Solikamsk / Odnoklassniki

A giant sinkhole attributed to an accident at the Solikamsk-2 potash mine in central Russia's Perm region, has continued expanding and now measures about 120 by 125 meters, a news report said.

"From being huge, the sinkhole has become gigantic," Meduza news agency said in a report Wednesday, accompanied by pictures of the crater.

The sinkhole started out at around 30 meters in width after the accident last year, which was linked to brine inflow.

Mine owner Uralkali, the world's largest potash producer, has suspended operations at Solikamsk-2 while it tries to contain the inflow and pump out the brine.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more