MEXICO CITY — President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said a cave at a coal mine in northern Mexico trapped nine miners on Wednesday.
The president tweeted that the crash happened in the town of Sabinas in the border state of Coahuila. He said 92 soldiers, specialists and four dogs were at the scene to assist in the rescue efforts.
The Coahuila state government said in a statement that the collapse occurred after miners punctured a nearby area filled with water.
The mine started operating this year and local authorities said they have not received any complaints or reports of previous incidents. Sabinas is about 70 miles southwest of Eagle Pass, Texas.
Local media reported that a miner was trying to escape the collapse and alerted authorities.
Television station Milenio said relatives of the trapped miners had gathered outside the mine waiting for information.
In June and July 2021, caves at two Coahuila mines claimed the lives of 9 miners.
Mexico’s worst mining accident also occurred in Coahuila on February 19, 2006, when an explosion tore through the Pasta de Conchos mine while 73 miners were inside. Eight people were treated with injuries including severe burns. The rest were dead and only two of their bodies were recovered.
López Obrador’s administration had promised two years ago to recover the remaining 63 bodies, a highly technical effort that has yet to begin.
