MOSCOW (AP) — Authorities in Russia's Yakutia region in eastern Siberia say a landslide of diamond sands at a mine has blocked a road and damaged electricity pylons.
Yakutia's industry ministry said Wednesday a government commission has inspected the area outside the town of Mirny where "uncontrolled" diamond sands at a mine operated by the world's largest diamond miner, Alrosa, blocked a road last weekend.
The sands at the mine, which was disused but has recently undergone prospecting work, are believed to have been exposed to a lot of moisture. As soon as it froze, the sands slid downhill, blocking the road.
The statement said the mine operator in Yakutia, home to giant diamond deposits, had to create a bypass road to allow vehicles through.