3 More Waiting Days for Trapped Peru Miners

Oscar Valdes, cabinet chief to Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, said on Tuesday that it would take about three more days before the nine trapped miners could be rescued.

The miners, who are being supplied by rescuers with liquid food through a hose which is also used for communication, have been trapped 250 metres inside the Cabeza de Negro mine since Thursday after a shaft collapsed, which was preceded by a blast the miners made. The mine is 1,347 metres above sea level and located 325 kilometres south of Lima.

The nine, aged 22 to 59 and includes a father and son pair, are trapped by 8 metres of earth and rock that block the mine's entrance. Although the rescuers have removed several tonnes of earth and rock from the tunnel's mouth using pickaxes and shovels, the equipment is not sufficient.

Peruvian Mining Minister Jorge Menno asked mining firms to lend heavy equipment and send experts to speed the rescue efforts. Two nearby mining companies responded and sent 20 miners on Sunday evening.

The prime minister said the trapped miners appear to be in good condition. However, some officials expressed concern that some miners could become sick because of the cold temperature caused by humidity.

Although Peru is the world's second largest copper exporter and sixth in gold exports, and 60 per cent of the country's exports are from resources, the country does not have a specialised team for mining rescues, former Deputy Environment Minister Jose de Echave admitted to the Associated Press.

In 2011, 52 Peruvian miners died in work-related accidents. About one-third of the deaths happened because of mine shaft collapses.

A temporary camp was built near the mine to house relatives, police, firefighters and other miners. One of the miners, Jacinto Pariona, pleaded for faster rescue efforts because depression is starting to set in. Some complained of headaches, nausea, bone pains and shivering, said Nancy Fernandez, the wife of Mr Pariona, after she spoke to him.

More cave-ins slowed the pace of the rescue operations which left the team estimating only the distance between them and the trapped miners at two metres.

According to the Herald Sun, Cabeza de Negro is unlicensed and was abandoned more than 20 years ago by its real owners, but the mine continues to be exploited by informal artisanal miners in search of silver, copper and gold.