Alaska News

Man killed by ‘incident’ on a production drill at Red Dog mine, according to mine operator

An employee died Saturday as a result of an incident at Red Dog mine in Northwest Alaska near Kotzebue, according to mine operator Teck Alaska Incorporated.

Teck Alaska wrote Sunday that a “fatal incident occurred on a production drill at our Red Dog operation in Alaska in the evening of Saturday, January 16, resulting in the death of a 47-year-old employee.”

Red Dog mine is a large zinc and lead mine located about 80 miles north of Kotzebue. No other employees or contractors were injured, according to Teck Alaska. The company said in a statement Sunday that there is no ongoing safety or environmental risks at the mine.

A company spokesman said the employee killed was a man but didn’t provide any further information about the incident.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident, the company said.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, focusing on breaking news. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota and previously helped cover the Nebraska Legislature for The Associated Press. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com.

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