Goldcorp evacuates employees from gold mine due to forest fires

Goldcorp Inc. announced Thursday that it has commenced the evacuation of employees from the Éléonore project due to forest fires in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. A fire currently located approximately 62 miles from Éléonore is advancing with prevailing winds toward the mine site. All construction activity has ceased.

The Éléonore project is one of the significant gold mine projects in the Goldcorp development pipeline and a key component of the company's next generation of growth projects, according to their website. A 2011 pre-feasibility study update for Éléonore calls for robust, low-cost gold production in the heart of one of the most attractive mining jurisdictions in the world.

“A crew will remain at site to manage and implement preventive emergency measures,” the company said in a press statement. “Goldcorp is working with local and provincial authorities to safeguard the health and safety of all people in the area.”

Goldcorp is one of the world's fastest growing senior gold producers.

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