‘Time against us’ in bid to rescue 10 Mexican miners after 3 days underground

By Luis Cortes and Daina Beth Solomon

SABINAS, Mexico (Reuters) -Massive pumps sucked water from a flooded coal mine in Mexico on Saturday as authorities weighed whether or not to ship divers to attempt to save 10 miners who’ve been trapped underground for greater than three days.

The miners grew to become trapped at a mine within the northern border state of Coahuila on Wednesday afternoon when their excavation work induced a tunnel wall to break down, triggering flooding in three wells.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador mentioned Saturday can be “decisive” in figuring out whether or not divers might safely enter the mine. However by afternoon, Coahuila Governor Miguel Riquelme mentioned water ranges had been nonetheless too excessive.

“Time is towards us,” he informed households on the web site, Mexican media reported.

Kinfolk retaining vigil outdoors mentioned they had been pinning their hopes on the chance the miners had discovered a pocket of air.

“We’re drained, we’re determined, however with a little bit bit (of) hope,” mentioned Cecilia Cruz, including that she had heard about mining accidents in her native Coahuila for many years earlier than the incident that trapped her nephew, 42-year-old Sergio Cruz.

The potential of mud-filled tunnels and underground collapses might make it unattainable for rescue groups to seek for the miners, even when sufficient water is extracted, she famous.

“Do they wish to danger extra lives? It might be a good greater tragedy,” she mentioned.

Six divers from Mexican Particular Forces had been despatched to assist the trouble on the mine, the place three wells, every 60 meters (200 ft) deep, had been initially greater than half-flooded.

5 miners managed to flee. One, Fernando Pompa, recounted in an interview with a Coahuila radio station how he was hauled above floor in a cart used to move coal after the accident unleashed an enormous gush of water.

“The hope is that there is a little bubble of air,” he mentioned.

The mine, within the municipality of Sabinas, opened in January and had no “report of complaints for any sort of abnormality,” in keeping with the Labor Ministry.

Sergio Martinez, whose brother Jorge Luis Martinez, 34, is trapped, mentioned staff above floor informed him they heard a thundering noise accompanied by an jet of air when the accident occurred. They raced to the mine and threw down a rope, pulling up staff by hand, however did not attain Jorge Luis.

“We hope there is a miracle so he will get out alive,” Martinez mentioned.

(Reporting by Luis Cortes in Sabinas; Daina Beth Solomon and Marion Giraldo in Mexico Metropolis; Modifying by Will Dunham and Jonathan Oatis)