Three workers trapped in B.C.'s Red Chris mine have air, food, water, operator says

Three workers trapped underground in a refuge area at the Red Chris mine in northwestern British Columbia have enough air, water and food for an "extended stay," the mine's majority owner said Wednesday.

The statement from Newmont Corp. said it was working to assemble specialist teams from nearby mine sites to respond to the accident that occurred Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the company said the "contained refuge bays" are equipped to support about 16 people for three days, and the three workers have access to more than one of those bays in the area where they are trapped.

The workers became trapped after two "fall of ground" incidents blocked access, Newmont's statement said.

They were working more than 500 metres beyond the area affected by the first fall and had relocated to the refuge station before the second collapse blocked their escape, it said.

The statement said contact was established with the workers after the first incident, and they confirmed they had safely relocated to the station.

However, it said the second collapse of rock or soil "restricted" communication with the workers.

"All appropriate emergency response protocols were activated immediately," the statement said.

"Newmont is actively assessing all methods and technologies available to restore communication and safely bring our team members to surface."

Operations at the copper and gold mine have been stood down, the statement added.

B.C. Premier David Eby released the news at the end of the premiers' gathering in Ontario on Wednesday, telling media that to the best of his knowledge, the workers are uninjured.

He said two of the workers are from B.C. and another is from Ontario.

"B.C. miners are the best in the world. Our rescue teams are exceptional, and they will be working overtime to bring these workers home safely to their families," he said.

WorkSafeBC, the province's worker safety agency, said in a statement that mine safety falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals. 

Mining Minister Jagrup Brar issued a statement saying his ministry had dispatched a geotechnical inspector of mines to the site to work with Newmont and support rescue efforts.

The Transportation Ministry expedited a permit to allow heavy equipment to be moved from the nearby Brucejack mine to Red Chris to assist, he added.

"I'm heartened to see the immediate support that's been provided from others across the mining industry, in the form of supplies, equipment and expertise to assist with this situation," he said.

"Mining operators in B.C. — including Newmont — have highly trained mine rescue teams at the ready to respond in emergency situations."

Nolan Paquette, a business agent for United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, said the trapped workers are contractors. 

They are trapped on the opposite side of the collapse, but they are safely in the refuge station underground, he said in an interview.

Eby said the province was in contact with the mine's owner, which was working with world-leading mining rescue experts.

The premier said he had spoken to Ontario Premier Doug Ford about the situation and was keeping Ford's government up to date. 

"Obviously it's very concerning for the families, for the workers in the sector and British Columbians and Canadians and our thoughts are with the families and appreciation with the incredibly brave rescue teams that are working right now."

Eby told reporters later Wednesday that he didn't have details on how long the rescue was expected to take.

The province's ambulance service, meanwhile, said it was monitoring the situation.

The Red Chris mine is jointly owned by Newmont, which has a 70 per cent interest in the project, and Imperial Metals Corp.

The mine is mostly an open-pit operation, but Newmont said in an earlier statement that development of underground block-cave mining began in 2019, four years after its first production date.

The Canadian Mining Journal has said block caving can extend the life of an open pit operation, and the underground mass mining method allows for bulk extraction of lower-grade ore deposits.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette