Three Lives Underground: Red Chris Mine Collapse Sparks Urgent Rescue Efforts
Right now, there's a very tense and serious situation unfolding in northern British Columbia. Three workers are currently trapped more than 500 metres underground at the Red Chris gold and copper mine, near Dease Lake, after not one, but multiple ground collapses occurred earlier this week. The mine, which is majority-owned by Newmont Corporation, experienced its first collapse Tuesday morning. That forced the workers to retreat into a designated underground refuge station—something designed exactly for this kind of emergency.
But the situation escalated when a second collapse not only blocked access routes but also severed communications with the team underground. These aren’t just nameless employees—we now know that two are from British Columbia and one is from Ontario. While these workers are not part of a union, they are contractors, and they were confirmed to have made it safely into the refuge station, which thankfully is stocked with food, water, and proper ventilation for extended stays.
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As you can imagine, the priority now is to get them out safely. Operations at the mine have been completely paused, and Newmont is working with leading mining rescue experts to assess the best possible way forward. Specialist response teams are being assembled from nearby mining operations. The Premier of B.C., David Eby, has expressed deep concern and assured the public that all available resources are being directed to the rescue mission. He’s even spoken to Ontario Premier Doug Ford to keep him in the loop, since one of the trapped men is from Ontario.
This all comes as Red Chris was transitioning from an open-pit mine to underground mining using a technique called block caving, meant to unlock significant copper reserves—up to 80,000 more tonnes a year. That project had been fast-tracked by the province earlier this year to help stabilize trade amidst U.S. economic uncertainty. Newmont currently owns 70% of the mine, with Imperial Metals holding the remaining stake.
And while this accident has gripped national attention, there’s also a bit of history hanging in the air—Imperial Metals is still dealing with the aftermath of a devastating tailings pond spill at another of its sites, the Mount Polley mine, a decade ago. That incident led to major environmental damage and a string of federal charges.
But for now, all eyes are on Red Chris. The focus is clear: three men are still underground. Time is of the essence. This is a situation no miner ever wants to face, and our thoughts are with the families, the workers, and the brave rescue teams risking everything to bring them home safely.
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