Ecuador Gold Mine Cave-In Traps Four Miners Underground

by Amy Judd | October 15, 2010 at 10:39 am

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A Cave-In at an Ecuador Gold Mine Has Trapped Four Miners Underground

Authorities are unclear if the miners are alive at this time, but they were trapped about 150 metres below the surface.

The name of the mine has not been released, but it is a gold mine located in the southern coastal region near the Peruvian border. Three of the miners are from Ecuador and one is from Peru.

"The information we have is that four people are trapped. They were working the night shift. There is no certainty they are alive. We are seeking information from the mine owners," local provincial official Angel Camacho told Reuters.

It is not know what caused the cave-in, but local media are reporting that it could be vibrations from explosives or from the water filtration system.

This cave-in comes just days after 33 miners were rescued in Chile after being trapped underground for 69 days.