British Columbia (Richa Walia): Three workers remain trapped underground at the Red Chris copper and gold mine in northwestern British Columbia, but are safe and have access to essential supplies, according to mine operator Newmont Corp.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, following two separate “fall of ground” events that blocked access to the area where the workers were operating. The workers had moved to a designated refuge station after the first collapse, but a second fall later blocked their exit.
Newmont said the refuge bays—designed to support up to 16 people for at least three days—are stocked with food, water, and air, and the workers currently have access to more than one of these bays. Contact was initially established after the first incident, but the second collapse has limited further communication.
“All emergency response protocols were activated immediately,” Newmont said in a statement Wednesday. “We are evaluating every available method and technology to restore contact and safely bring our team members to the surface.”
The company is assembling specialized teams from nearby sites to support rescue efforts. Operations at the mine have been temporarily suspended.
B.C. Premier David Eby addressed the situation during a press conference at the close of the premiers’ meeting in Ontario, confirming the workers were not injured. Two of the individuals are from British Columbia and the third from Ontario.
“B.C. miners are among the best in the world, and our rescue teams are highly skilled,” Eby said. “They’re working tirelessly to bring these workers home safely.”
He added that a senior geotechnical inspector has been deployed by the province to assist with rescue operations. Mining Minister Jagrup Brar confirmed the Transportation Ministry expedited a permit to move heavy equipment from the nearby Brucejack mine to support the efforts at Red Chris.
WorkSafeBC noted that mine safety oversight falls under the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, which is actively engaged in the response.
Nolan Paquette of the United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 confirmed the trapped workers are contractors and safely positioned inside the underground refuge station.
Imperial Metals Corp., which co-owns the mine with Newmont (holding a 30% interest), echoed Newmont’s commitment to worker safety in its own statement.
The Red Chris site began underground development in 2019 using a technique called block caving, which is often used to extend the life of open-pit mines by allowing bulk extraction of lower-grade ore.
As rescue efforts continue, Eby said the province is staying in close contact with Newmont and the Ontario government, emphasizing the need for patience and hope.
“Our thoughts are with the workers, their families, and the courageous teams working to bring them home,” he said.
