B.C. company says no survivors found in refuge chamber after Burkina Faso mine flood

B.C.-based Trevali Mining Corp. says none of the eight workers missing since the Perkoa Mine in Burkina Faso flooded a month ago were able to reach an underground refuge chamber.

The company, headquartered in Vancouver, says rescue workers,who have been working 24 hours a day to remove water from the mine, reached the refuge 570 metres below ground but found it intact with no one inside.

Trevali CEO Ricus Grimbeek called it devastating news.

The company says search crews will continue to work at maximum capacity until the missing individuals are recovered.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said four workers' bodies have been recovered at the mine, but four remained unaccounted for.

"The company's search crews will continue to work at full capacity to locate these individuals," read a statement from Trevali.

There has been no communication with the eight missing workers since the mine was flooded after heavy rainfall in the region on April 16.

The company has said it's working closely with authorities as it investigates the cause of the flooding.

They also said in a statement that they were in "regular contact" with the families of the eight trapped workers, and would offer support though it is unclear what the nature of this support is.