A large-scale wall collapse has struck the open-pit mine operated by Yara International in Siilinjärvi, Finland, temporarily halting operations at one of Europe’s largest mining sites.
The incident, which occurred in early April, affected several hectares of the mine’s pit walls. Despite the scale of the collapse, no injuries were reported, as the area had been evacuated in advance.
Collapse predicted years in advance
According to the company, the collapse was not unexpected. The affected section of the mine had been closely monitored for around five years using advanced surveillance systems.
Engineers tracked gradual movements in the rock face through radar-based monitoring and GPS measurements, allowing them to anticipate when the collapse would occur.
– We had full control of the situation and were able to act in time, said mine manager Matti Permi, according to company information.
Permi noted that no previous collapse of similar magnitude has been recorded at the Siilinjärvi main pit, highlighting the unusual scale of the event.
Operations resume after precautionary halt
Mining operations had already been suspended the day before the collapse, and the area had been sealed off as a precaution. This proactive approach significantly reduced the operational impact.
Production is expected to return to normal shortly, with activities resuming within days of the incident.
The Siilinjärvi site covers approximately 185 hectares, making it one of the largest open-pit mines of its kind in Europe. The operation employs around 280 people, including contractors, and produces roughly 30 million tonnes of material annually.
Key resource for agriculture
The mine plays a critical role in the production of phosphate-based fertilisers, which are essential for modern agriculture. As such, maintaining stable operations is vital not only for the company but also for broader supply chains.
The incident underscores the importance of monitoring technologies and risk management in large-scale mining operations. It also highlights that even well-managed sites face inherent geological risks.
At the same time, the event raises questions about long-term stability in ageing open-pit mines, where continuous extraction can increase structural stress over time.
Source: Yara
Fact check:
Siilinjärvi is Finland’s largest phosphate mine and one of Europe’s most important sources of raw materials for fertiliser production. The site has been in operation since the 1970s.
