Final Miner Recovered From El Pinabete Mine Accident

The National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) confirmed on Feb. 6 that the human remains of the tenth and final miner, who had been missing since the collapse at the El Pinabete mine in August 2022, were located in the GSN6 Norte gallery. 

The discovery included a shoe containing skeletal remains, which prompted the immediate activation of essential safety protocols. Recovery operations will continue in line with the Biological Findings Recovery Protocol, with ongoing efforts focused on retrieving all remains from the GSN6 Norte gallery and vertical shaft No. 2.

The CNPC emphasized that the successful operation was the result of a coordinated effort between the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), and the Attorney General’s Office of Coahuila (FGEC).

What Happened at the El Pinabete Coal Mine?

On Aug. 3, 2022, 15 miners were working at a depth of 60m when the walls of the tunnels collapsed, flooding the three pits at El Pinabete in Sabinas, Coahuila. Since then, authorities have been trying to rescue the miners. At the time of the accident, five of the 15 mine workers managed to escape. 

Since then, relatives of the victims have complained about the lack of transparency and the lack of progress in the authorities’ efforts. The government, however, explained that it was not possible to rescue the bodies earlier due to the flooding of the mine. In April, the Prosecutor's Office conclusively identified four bodies: Hugo Tijerina Amaya, Jorge Luis Martínez Valdez, Jaime Montelongo Pérez, and José Rogelio Moreno Morales. The miners' remains were discovered during separate rescue operations: the first two on Nov. 11, 2023, the third on Dec. 29, and the fourth on Jan. 16, 2024.