Photo by Miguel Arcanjo Saddi
Three miners have been rescued after being trapped underground for two days following a mine collapse in northern British Columbia, Canada.
The incident occurred at the Red Chris copper and gold mine, located on Tahltan Nation territory approximately 260 miles (420 kilometers) west of Fort Nelson. In a statement released to local media, mine operator Newmont confirmed that the miners were “in good health and spirits” after their successful rescue on Thursday night.
The workers—identified by their employer as Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke, and Jesse Chubaty—were trapped behind a mass of debris estimated to be 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) in length and 7 to 8 meters high. Despite the collapse, the men managed to reach an underground refuge chamber where they had access to food, water, and proper ventilation.
Newmont stated that the miners are now receiving support from medical teams, and that their families had been informed of the rescue efforts and successful outcome. The men were employed as contractors for Hy-Tech Drilling, a British Columbia-based drilling firm.
According to reports, the rescue was made possible after officials succeeded in clearing the original access tunnel to the mine. While the operation has now concluded, a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse has been announced.
Newmont previously said the first cave-in occurred on Tuesday in an area of the mine near where the workers were located. The miners were able to move to a secure, sealed chamber underground, designed to accommodate up to 16 people. However, a second collapse on Wednesday further obstructed their escape and complicated rescue efforts.
Rescue teams worked to re-establish communication with the trapped men before launching Thursday’s successful mission to extract them. Throughout the ordeal, the refuge chamber provided essential supplies intended to sustain individuals during emergencies.
The Red Chris mine, an open-pit facility built in 2014, suspended all production activities during the rescue operation. Authorities have confirmed that a comprehensive review will be conducted to determine the cause of the collapse and to assess safety protocols moving forward.
