8 trapped miners rescued alive in Colombia

[News_Editor]

8 trapped miners rescued alive in Colombia

2011-05-18 06:22:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (BNO NEWS) -- Seven hours after the emergency was reported, the eight Colombian miners trapped in a coal mine were successfully rescued, officials said Tuesday.

The miners walked out from the Lomagorda coal mine, which is located in the outskirts of Cali, Colombia, at around 3:30 p.m. local time after being trapped some 100 meters (328 feet) deep and about 10 meters (32 feet) from the mine's entrance, Colombia's el Tiempo reported.

Earlier in the morning, at about 8:30 a.m. local time, part of the mine collapsed, trapping the miners, but they quickly took action, hitting the steel rails used to transport coal. People outside the mine were alerted by the sounds and reported the situation.

A team of about 30 rescue workers under the leadership of local firefighter captain Alveiro Gutierrez were deployed, and they began digging out the rubble. Cali Mayor Jorge Ivan Ospina also sent out a team of seven veteran miners to aid the rescue mission.

All of the rescued miners walked out of the mine in good condition and were identified as Hermogenes Macias, 43, Julio Cesar Sanchez, 39, Hector Paz, 23, Ariel Ararade, 30, Albeiro Areiza, 45, Uriel Restrepo, 50, Jairo Ocoro, 55, and Rodrigo Abadia, 25.

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