This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-28142317

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Honduras landslide traps 11 artisanal gold miners Honduras landslide traps 11 artisanal gold miners
(about 7 hours later)
Rescue workers are trying to free 11 Hondurans who are trapped in a small artisanal gold mine 110km (70 miles) south of the capital, Tegucigalpa. Rescue workers in Honduras are trying to free 11 men who are trapped in a small gold mine 110km (70 miles) south of the capital, Tegucigalpa.
The miners were cut off on Wednesday after a landslide blocked their tunnel near the town of El Corpus.The miners were cut off on Wednesday after a landslide blocked their tunnel near the town of El Corpus.
Firefighters said they had made contact with three of the men. The fate of the other eight was not known.Firefighters said they had made contact with three of the men. The fate of the other eight was not known.
Artisanal mines are common in Honduras but the lack of adequate security means fatal accidents are not unusual. Informal mines are common in Honduras but the lack of adequate security means serious accidents are not unusual.
Risky rescueRisky rescue
The artisanal mine is located in an area prone to landslides and quakes. The mine is located in an area prone to landslides and quakes.
The rescue workers said their work was progressing "slowly and with difficulty" because of the risk of another landslide.The rescue workers said their work was progressing "slowly and with difficulty" because of the risk of another landslide.
Firefighter spokesman Oscar Triminio said they could not use heavy machinery because the terrain was unstable. Firefighter Oscar Triminio said he and his colleagues could not use heavy machinery because the terrain was unstable.
Emergency workers said they had heard shouts from three of the miners, but they did not know if the other eight were still alive.
The collapse happened in a vertical tunnel at a depth of about 80m (260ft), Mr Triminio said.The collapse happened in a vertical tunnel at a depth of about 80m (260ft), Mr Triminio said.
Emergency workers said they had heard shouts from three of the miners, but they did not know if the other eight were still alive.
Another firefighter, Manuel de Jesus Reyes, said they made auditory contact with some of the miners who were "banging their picks and shovels and yelling," Reuters news agency reports.
Rescuers have been pumping oxygen to the three through a hose.Rescuers have been pumping oxygen to the three through a hose.
The mayor of the nearby town of El Corpus, Luis Andres Rueda, said that there were more than 50 artisanal mines in the area. The mayor of the nearby town of El Corpus, Luis Andres Rueda, said there were more than 50 informal mines in the area.
He said that daily hundreds of people use ladders to climb down into shafts as deep as 200m. He said that daily hundreds of people used ladders to climb down into shafts as deep as 200m.
Armed with pickaxes, they hack away at the tunnel walls to try to extract minute gold nuggets from the soil.Armed with pickaxes, they hack away at the tunnel walls to try to extract minute gold nuggets from the soil.