|
The heap of rocks is 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 rockfalls at the Red Chris mine in
northern British Columbia.
Mine company Newmont Corp. said that the workers have enough
air, food and water for an extended stay, although their
communications were cut off after the second cave-in.
The company's statement said that specialized drones have been
sent in to assess the geotechnical conditions underground at the
mine. Teams are restoring the specialized communication system
to try to reestablish communication with the workers, the
statement said.
“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,”
according to the statement, referring to the safe haven where
the workers are staying.
Production at the mine has been paused while the rescue effort
continues.
The mine is mostly open pit, but Newmont said in an earlier
statement that development of underground block-cave mining
began in 2019, four years after the mine’s first production
date.
The company said that the three trapped workers are
business-partner employees, two from British Columbia and one
from Ontario. They were working more than 500 meters (more than
a quarter-mile) past the affected zone when the first rocks
fell, and were asked to relocate to the refuge before the second
rockfall.
“Following the first event, contact was established with the
individuals and confirmation was received that they had safely
relocated to one of multiple self-contained refuge bays,” the
company’s statement said.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
