Four Ecuador Miners Trapped in Underground Gold Mine in Southern Ecuador
Four miners are trapped underground in a mine in southern Ecuador after a cave-in early this morning, the South American country’s government said.
Rescue workers are trying to make contact with the miners, trapped 150 meters (492 feet) below ground, the National Risk Management Secretary said today in a statement on its website.
The miners may be rescued tonight, Quito-based newspaper El Comercio said today on its website, citing Jorge Espinosa, undersecretary of mine development at the nation’s Non-Renewable Natural Resources Ministry. The collapse comes two days after the rescue of 33 Chilean miners, trapped below ground for as long as 70 days in what became the world’s longest mine rescue.
The mine, which produces gold, silver and copper, is located in the city of Portovelo and is owned by Machala, Ecuador-based Minesadco SA, Carlos Perez, an engineer’s assistant at the company, said today in a telephone interview.
The mine in Ecuador collapsed after a water leak weakened the structure where the miners were located, El Comercio said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nathan Gill in Quito at ngill4@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dale Crofts at dcrofts@bloomberg.net
Rate this Page