3 workers trapped in a Canadian mine have air, food and water as rescuers try to gain access to them
Vancouver, British Columbia (AP) – Three workers remain trapped in a golden and copper mine in Western Canada Thursday while a remote -controlled scoop began to remove Rockfalls debris to access it, a mining company said in a press release.
The heap of rocks measures 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) long and seven to eight meters (22 to 26 feet) high. The workers were trapped Tuesday after two rocks at the Red Chris mine in northern British Columbia.
The company of Mines Newmont Corp. said workers had enough air, food and water for an extended stay, although their communications were cut after the second cave.
The company’s press release said that specialized drones were sent to assess geotechnical conditions underground at the mine. The teams restore the specialized communication system to try to restore communication with workers, according to the press release.
“The workers are heard in the shelter in a minearc refuge chamber designed to support 16 people. Additional refuge rooms are also available nearby and accessible if necessary,” according to the press release, referring to the safety refuge where workers are staying.
Mine production has been interrupted while the rescue effort continues.
The mine is mainly outdoors, but Newmont said in a previous statement that the development of the minor exploitation of the underground block has started in 2019, four years after the first production date of the mine.
The company said the three workers trapped are business partners, two in British Columbia and one from Ontario. They worked more than 500 meters (more than a quarter of a mile) after the area affected when the first rocks fell, and were invited to move to the refuge before the second rock fall.
“After the first event, contact was created with individuals and the confirmation was received that they had moved safely in one of the multiple autonomous refuge berries,” said the company’s statement.
