By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
AMAGA, Colombia—Little hope remains for dozens of workers who are trapped in a coal mine after an explosion. At least 18 workers were killed and over 50 are still unaccounted for. Rescue efforts have been stifled by dangerous gases and the fact that rescuers do not have oxygen tanks.
The mine explosion occurred late Wednesday in the San Fernando mine, located in a rural town south of the Antioquia state capital. The blast happened during a shift change in an access tunnel. It is believed that a buildup of methane gas was to blame.
“It’s unlikely that there are any survivors given the accumulation of methane gas and carbon monoxide,” Luz Amanda Pulido, Colombia’s National Disaster director, told the Associated Press. Rescuers have been hindered by intense heat and a collapse in the tunnel. Officials estimate that the rescue and recovery operation could take two weeks.
President Uribe, who met with miners’ relatives, admitted he felt “helpless” given the dire situation. “They are now bringing in some fans that were unfortunately not in place before,” he explained, referring to gas extractor fans that were missing in the mine.
Mining Minister Hernan Martinez said the mine lacked basic safety features common to the mining industry, such as a methane ventilation pipe or gas detector. Relatives of the trapped miners said temperatures inside the mine often ranged from 104 to 113 degrees.
A school near the mine was set up as a makeshift morgue. Coroners said most of the victims died from burns caused by the explosion. Several bodies were burned beyond recognition. Survivor Walter Restrepo, who escaped the mine in time, recalled: “A rain of fire fell on top of me.”
The San Fernando mine has about 600 workers and is one of Colombia’s 3,000 underground mines that produce 6 million metric tons of coal each year. Mine disasters seem increasingly common. A similar incident occurred a year and a half ago, trapping five miners, one of whom died. Last year, at a nearby mine, nine miners were killed by an explosion. No new safety regulations were instituted.
Colombia’s Institute for Geology and Mining will conduct an investigation into the inadequate safety regulations in the mine. According to Martinez, the mine will not reopen until the investigation is complete.
Half of Colombia’s population lives beneath the official poverty line and working conditions are notoriously inadequate. High levels of unemployment force youth to risk their lives in dangerous mines that lack safe conditions. Often the pay in these mines is very low, especially when compared to the hazards involved.
For more information, please see:
Colombia Reports-Government to take care of families of deceased miners-19 June 2010
Axis of Logic-Over 50 miners trapped in a Colombian coal mine-19 June 2010
LA Times-Little hope for 53 missing miners in Colombia-19 June 2010
AP-Little hope for trapped Colombian miners-18 June 2010
