In brief
Authorities report that the individuals are safe in a refuge area but faces challenges due to a second collapse.
Rescue operations are currently in progress for three miners who find themselves trapped underground following a collapse at the Red Chris mine in northern British Columbia. Situated 260 miles (420 km) west of Fort Nelson, the mine is located on Tahltan Nation territory, and the incident occurred as the trio were working in the area. British Columbia Premier David Eby commented on the situation Wednesday, stating, "There was an accident. There are three miners that are currently trapped underground. They are, to the best of our knowledge, uninjured and in a refuge area."According to mine operator Newmont Corp, an area of the ground collapsed the day prior near where the miners were stationed. Fortunately, the miners—two from British Columbia and one from Ontario—managed to relocate to a sealed refuge area before a subsequent collapse hindered their exit. This underground refuge station is equipped with sufficient food, water, and ventilation to support an extended duration stay, as noted by Newmont.At the time of the initial incident, the miners were over 500 meters away from the affected zone and received instructions to move to the designated refuge station ahead of the secondary collapse which then obstructed their escape route. Newmont has since reported limited communication with the miners due to the circumstances, leading to a "standdown of operations" at the site. Opened in 2014, the Red Chris mine is primarily dedicated to copper and gold extraction, currently becoming the focal point of ongoing rescue efforts.
