The Mining Security and Rescue group assured that they will conclude their work until they rescue the five workers who are still missing
La Mestiza Mine, El Zulia, North of Santander. Photo: Governor’s Office of Norte de Santander
For almost six days, the local authorities have carried out relief efforts to rescue the miners who were trapped by the explosion in the mine in the municipality of La Mestiza, in the area rural area of El Zulia, North of Santander. This Sunday, the Mining Security and Rescue group reported that they found another lifeless body, with which they would be 10 fatalities of the tragedy.
The incident occurred on May 30, when the explosion was reported in a mine shaft. Everything would indicate that it was an explosion caused by methane and coal dust. The activities of the rescue team have been concentrated in the lower level of ventilation, due to the collapse of the main access.
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The work of the rescuers has had various difficulties due to the concentration levels of methane gas in the mine and several landslides; in addition, the people who were trapped are at a depth of 350 meters. Despite the setbacks, the Mining Security and Rescue group assured that they will conclude their work until all the missing workers are rescued.
In total, 15 people were affected by the mine explosion. These are nine of the ten known victims so far: Fabio Cáceres García, Giovanny Celis Arias, Alonso Bastos Bastos, Omar Alirio Arias Arias, Fermin Torres Rincón, Douglas Arley Gaona Gaona, Wilmer Ipuana, Jerson Javier Gelves Coronado and Alexander Estupiñán Rodríguez.
The case of Fabio Cáceres drew attention, as he was the only miner rescued alive, but who died 36 hours later due to the seriousness of his injuries. The worker had second and third degree burns on at least 85% of his body.
Despite the seriousness of the injuries, there was a possibility that the miner could be saved and his relatives clung to that hope. Cáceres had to be transferred to Bogotá to receive special care from specialized doctors and with the necessary equipment for his care; however, said trip could not be carried out in a timely manner.
In context: The miner rescued from the mine in El Zulia, North of Santander
Adelaida Cortés, spouse of the deceased miner, explained to RCN Radio why she still had hope:“I was sure that my husband was saved because he was the only one not to be trapped inside the mine.” Cáceres was in charge of sending the car with which they took the coal out of the shaft.
The truth is that Cortés was not the only one waiting to find the worker alive. Around the mine, relatives wait outside the sinkhole for any news that might revive their faith; however, the outlook is not very encouraging.
When the rescuers found the first four bodies on June 1, one of the officials told the newspaper La Opinion< /i> that, in their psychosocial support work, we must not give hope to the families around the mine:
“You must not harm the expectations of the families, because we don’t know how they all are, but most likely they have already died, because inhaling these gases for so long is fatal.”