A bridge that was damaged when Hurricane Matthew swept through eastern Cuba has collapsed, killing four workers who were undertaking repairs, Canadian mining company Sherritt International reported on Wednesday.
The accident happened on Tuesday afternoon when a municipal bridge collapsed near the city of Moa. The bridge, which spans a shallow river, was the main access road from Moa to a mining site and a High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) facility.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this event,” said David Pathe, the president and chief executive of Sherritt International. “We extend our sympathy and condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the four employees.”
Sherritt International said the bridge was damaged when Hurricane Matthew hit the region in early October, and employees with the company’s Moa Joint Venture had been undertaking repairs since the end of October.
Sherritt International, which is one of the largest foreign investors in Cuba, said an investigation into the accident is underway. Production at the site is expected to be impacted while the company assesses how quickly they can upgrade a secondary access route.
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