What happened to the three workers stuck in a mine in Spain? Uncertainty reigned over their fate as the Catalan regional president deleted a tweet in which he had announced their passing. A large number of Spanish media, citing sources within the emergency services intervening on the spot, affirm that they are dead. Questioned by AFP, a regional police spokesman indicated that “official confirmation (of their death) would only come once the doctors have reached their level, certify that they are dead and informed the families”.
The three workers are trapped in a 900m deep potash mine in Súria, northeastern Spain. The accident followed a landslide, according to the Spanish newspaper The country. Emergency teams intervened early Thursday morning in the gallery to help the injured. According to the Catalan regional police, the accident took place shortly before 9 a.m., when a “collapse” occurred in a gallery of the mine.
Specialized units
“Three people are trapped about 900 m deep and we are studying with the company” owner of this mine, located in Súria, “how to proceed with the rescue”, indicated a spokesperson for the firefighters of Catalonia, before the deleted tweet from the Catalan regional president. This potash mine belongs to ICL Iberia, the Spanish subsidiary of the Israeli group ICL.
The regional police deployed specialized units to participate in the rescue, including a canine unit, while the regional emergency services sent two medical helicopters and a team of psychologists.
Súria is a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants located about 70 km from Barcelona. For decades, mining has supported the economic activity of the municipality. The Cabanasses potash mine is the largest in Catalonia.