Rescue under way for three workers trapped by Canada mine collapse

Rescue managers in Canada are working to release three minors trapped underground in northern British Columbia after the mine collapse.

The trio worked at the Red Chris mine on the territory of the Tahltan nation, 260 miles (420 km) west of the city of Fort Nelson.

“There was an accident,” British Columbia Prime Minister David Eby said on Wednesday. “There are three minors who are currently trapped underground. They are, to our knowledge, not injured and in a refuge area.”

A field zone in the mine collapsed the day before near an area in which the group worked, said mine operator Newmont Corp in a press release.

The minors – including two from British Columbia and one from Ontario – were able to move to a sealed area underground, before a second collapse blocks their movement, said Newmont.

The area where they moved included a refuge station which had food, water and adequate ventilation to “support an extended stay,” said the operator.

“At the time of the initial incident, three employees of business partners worked more than 500 meters beyond the affected area and were invited to move to a refuge station designated before a subsequent drop in land blocks the path,” added Newmont.

Since the collapse of the second collapse, there has been a limited communication, and therefore a “watch of operations” at the mine is in place, said the company.

The mine in which the three are trapped is a mine of copper and gold with an open copper, which was built in 2014.