Search for Trapped Mining Workers Will Take Much Longer
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Search for Trapped Mining Workers Will Take Much Longer

Photo by:   Nejc Soklič
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Paloma Duran By Paloma Duran | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Wed, 08/31/2022 - 10:35

The Mexican government announced that since it is currently impossible to find the 10 miners trapped in the collapsed mine in Sabinas, Coahuila, it has drawn up a new rescue plan. However, the new works could take more than half a year, depending on the difficulty of the terrain. The relatives of the victims are not satisfied with the new plan and want the rescues to take less time, as hopes of finding what are now presumed to be the bodies of the workers begin to fade.

In a meeting with the relatives of the 10 victims, the National Coordinator of Civil Protection Laura Velázquez stressed that the only way to rescue the bodies is by excavating an open pit mine, which would allow the rescuers to reach the underground shafts. Currently, the main problem that rescuers face is that the shafts, which are 60m below the surface, are constantly flooded through the tunnels. This makes rescue works difficult. The new approach is expected to take around six months. However, in case there are complications, it could take up to 11 months.

Relatives of the victims expressed their disappointment with the new plan, arguing that the bodies of their loved ones will remain underground for a long time. In addition, they accused the government of only giving them one option. “Velázquez told us that this is the only option they can give us. The ideal time is six months, but it can take much longer. That is not what we want: more time, more waiting. They told us about compensation, but no, we do not want money, we want [our relatives],” said María Elena Chávez, the wife of Jaime Montelongo Pérez, one of the trapped mining workers.

Likewise, the relatives accused the authorities of having abandoned the current rescue works, after dismantling the equipment that was used to pump the water from the wells. For its part, the government has stressed that no plan would be initiated without the full consent of the families. Furthermore, President López Obrador assured that there will be a permanent team to oversee the rescue efforts of the miners' bodies.

What Happened in Coahuila?

STPS reported that on Aug. 3, 2022, at 13:35 p.m., the Las Conchas mine, which started operations in January 2022, collapsed while workers were carrying out excavation activities. The workers are thought to have reached an inner wall separating them from a water-filled adjacent area, which after collapsing caused flooding that trapped them. “The mine started operations in January, to date we do not have reports regarding irregularities,” STPS stated. So far, five workers were able to get out, but 10 more remain trapped and isolated as authorities struggle to reach them. For several weeks, authorities have been draining the water to enter the mine and rescue the mining workers. However, they have not been successful so far. Relatives of the victims have complained about the lack of transparency provided and progress the government has made. This week, both relatives of the families and President López Obrador said they do not believe the workers could still be alive, as the president changed his narrative from a “rescue” to “recovering the bodies.”

Photo by:   Nejc Soklič

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