70 Canadian miners trapped underground after fire MONTREAL : At least 70 miners are trapped deep underground following a fire in a potash mine in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan, Canadian media reports.
The miners took refuge in special safety rooms inside the mine and should be out of danger, the Mosaic Company mine's spokesman, Marshall Hamilton, told Canadian television.
"In those refuge stations, the workers can seal themselves in with enough oxygen and food and water to be comfortable for the next 36 hours at least," said Hamilton.
"There are 30 of them that are in an area where the communication link, we believe, was destroyed by fire, but we believe they're safe," he said.
The fire began at 3:00 am (0900 GMT) at the mine near Esterhazy, east of Regina. The miners were trapped about one kilometre underground, media reported.
Authorities were waiting for firefighters to control the fire and for the air quality to improve before attempting a rescue.
"We've seen evidence that they've sealed themselves off. We have no reason to doubt they are anything but safe," Hamilton added.
Mosaic is based in the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. - AFP/de
when will they ever learn to be less complacent???
We have no reason to doubt they are anything but safe
havent they learned from the previous joy to anger scenario about the miners?? Have they taken in the factor whereby the fire inself could have consumed some oxygen?? and there they dare to say to wait for the air to improve blah blah before slowly attempting a resuce???
