Rescue under way for three workers trapped by Canada mine collapse
Three workers rescued after two days in collapsed Canada mine
(about 5 hours later)
The facility in which the trio are trapped is an open-pit copper and gold mine, which was constructed in 2014
The facility in which the trio were trapped is an open-pit copper and gold mine, which was constructed in 2014
Rescue officials in Canada are working to free three miners who are trapped underground in northern British Columbia (BC) after a mine collapse using a remote-controlled scoop.
Three miners in Canada have been rescued after spending two days trapped underground in northern British Columbia (BC) when a mine collapsed.
The trio were said to be trapped by a pile of debris 20m to 30m (65ft to 100ft) long and 7m to 8m high, after part of the Red Chris mine on Tahltan Nation territory collapsed.
In a statement to local media, mine operator Newmont said the trio were safe and "in good health and spirits", having been rescued on Thursday night.
Officials said the miners at Red Chris, located roughly 260 miles (420km) west of the town of Fort Nelson, had access to enough supplies for an extended stay.
The trio were trapped for two days by a pile of debris 20m to 30m (65ft to 100ft) long and 7m to 8m high, after part of the Red Chris mine on Tahltan Nation territory collapsed.
Mining firm Newmont said that, although the crew had enough air, food and water for now, it lost communication with them on Wednesday after a second cave-in.
The men - named by their company as Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty - had access to food, water and ventilation while stuck in an underground refuge chamber.
In a news update on Thursday evening, it said the priorities are re-establishing communications with the three workers, who have been trapped since Tuesday morning, drillers and assessing the safest way to clear the debris.
The firm in question, Newmont, said its statement that the men were being supported by medical teams.
It also said natural air is flowing to the refuge area where workers are trapped.
It added that the workers' families had been told about the rescue at Red Chris, which is about 260 miles (420km) west of the town of Fort Nelson.
Specialized drones have been deployed to assess the area underground at the mine, the company said in a statement, as teams work to restore communication.
The men were rescued after officials cleared the original access tunnel to the mine, local media reported. A full investigation will be carried out into the incident.
"The workers are understood to be sheltering in a MineARC refuge chamber designed to support 16 people. Additional refuge chambers are also available nearby and accessible if required," the statement said.
The three men worked at the mine as contractors for BC-based drilling firm Hy-Tech Drilling.
An area of ground in the mine collapsed the previous day near an area in which the group were working, mine operator Newmont Corp said in a statement.
While trapped, they are thought to have sheltered in a refuge chamber designed to support 16 people. Officials previously said they had access to enough supplies for an extended stay.
The miners were able to move to a sealed area underground, before a second collapse further blocked their movement, Newmont said.
The first cave-in occurred on Tuesday, when an area of ground in the mine collapsed near an area in which the group were working, Newmont previously said.
"At the time of the initial incident, three business partner employees were working more than 500 meters beyond the affected zone and were asked to relocate to a designated refuge station before a subsequent fall of ground blocked the access way," Newmont said.
The miners were able to move to a sealed area underground, before a second collapse on Wednesday further blocked their movement, Newmont said.
Newmont identified the workers as Darien Maduke, from BC, Kevin Coumbs, from Ontario, and Jesse Chubaty, of Manitoba. The three are contractors for Hy-Tech Drilling, a BC-based drilling firm.
Officials then worked to try to re-establish communications with the trapped workers before Thursday's rescue mission.
The mine in which the three are trapped is an open-pit copper and gold mine, which was constructed in 2014.
The facility in which the three were trapped is an open-pit copper and gold mine, which was constructed in 2014.
Production at the mine has been suspended as the rescue operation unfolds.
Production at the mine was suspended while the rescue operation was carried out.
