Canada - 39 Miners Trapped, Vale's Totten Mine, Sudbury, Ontario, 26 Sep 2021

[Lexiintoronto]

“SUDBURY -- A rescue operation is underway Monday for 39 people stuck underground at Vale's Totten Mine in Sudbury, Ont., CTV News has confirmed.

Nick Larochelle, president of Steelworkers Local 6500, told CTV's Lyndsay Aelick 39 people, including 30 Steelworkers, have been stuck underground since Sunday.

Larochelle said the miners went underground Sunday at 7 a.m. to begin their shifts. At 11:30 a.m., an incident occurred that caused damage to the shaft.

Mine rescue is on site working to get people to the surface, he added, and at this time, there are no injuries.

Larochelle said medication and food had been sent to the miners, but added he is very concerned for the employees.”

Rescue operation underway for 39 miners stuck underground in Sudbury, Ont.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

“Workers able to phone families from mine
The 39 employees working underground at that time immediately went to a refuge station, where they had access to food and water.

"We're doing absolutely everything we can to ensure the safety of these employees," Pagnutti said. "We are in close contact with the families. The employees are able to phone their families from underground and stay in touch with them. So our focus is squarely on the safety of the employees."

The company said it will provide further updates as they become available.”
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6191059?__twitter_impression=true

There was an ‘incident’ within the mine that damaged the conveyance system (cage) that transports employees. No one was reported injured, but there is concern for one employee currently trapped. (The details of how far down, and the details regarding that employee have not been confirmed.)

The Premier of Ontario:
Doug Ford
@fordnation

Our thoughts are with the 39 miners trapped underground in #Sudbury as rescue teams work to get them safely above ground. We understand this rescue will take some time and are very relieved to hear the miners are currently uninjured.
https://twitter.com/fordnation/status/1442569867807399944?s=20

CBC News Alerts
@CBCAlerts
·
2h

39 nickel, copper miners in Sudbury, Ontario await rescue. Vale, the owner, says they've been underground since Sunday after the transport system was taken offline due to an 'incident.' It says they're safe and will exit via a ladder system. The Totten mine has about 200 workers.
https://twitter.com/CBCAlerts/status/1442552420861624320?s=20

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Oh, better news:

CBC News Alerts
@CBCAlerts
·
45m

39 miners trapped underground near Sudbury, Ontario slowly making way to surface, company says. Vale says all the workers are safe and have had access to food, water and medicine. It says they're all expected to reach the surface sometime tonight.
https://twitter.com/CBCAlerts/status/1442560028049920003?s=20

ETA:
The workers are stuck at between 914 and 1,219 metres underground. (3000-4000 feet). The employees are walking up a ladder system right now.

Toronto's CN Tower is about 550 metres in height. (1800 feet.) (3rd largest tower in the world).

 

[JDG]

Sudbury dot com has some other information.

The ‘food’ consisted of chocolate bars and protein bars, not a proper meal to make the ascent to the top.

From various news sources, it seems that the senior staff and others who are unable to make the climb will be brought out last.

NorthernOntarioCTV news and CBC

I hope they are all out, safe and sound, in the morning.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

“The first 19 of the 39 miners trapped underground at a mine in northern Ontario have climbed to the surface, and the rest are expected to join them by midday Tuesday…

…Ontario Mine Rescue says it expects to have all 39 out of the mine by 11 a.m. Tuesday.

They have been climbing up a series of ladders, some from as far down as 1,200 metres, with the aid of mine rescue workers.

Ontario Mine Rescue says that some workers unable to complete the climb may be hoisted out using ropes.

"It's been a challenge for us, but at the same time it's been incredible to see the teamwork," said Pagnutti.”

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6191787?__twitter_impression=true

Unconfirmed: a mine worker said it’s a 10-hour vertical climb.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

CBC News Alerts
@CBCAlerts
·
22m

UPDATE: 33 of the 39 miners who were trapped underground at a northern Ontario mine are now back on the surface. No injuries have been reported. Rescuers are working to free the remaining 6 workers.
https://twitter.com/CBCAlerts/status/1442833161201852419?s=20

 

[moonriverfarm]

MY LIVING NIGHTMARE. So glad they are out and safe.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

MY LIVING NIGHTMARE. So glad they are out and safe.

Almost there! 4 left to be rescued.

CBC News Alerts
@CBCAlerts
·
39m

2 more miners have reached the surface in Sudbury, Ontario. That leaves just 4 still below ground. In all, 39 miners were trapped Sunday due to a malfunction with the mine's elevator system. (previous story attached to link).
https://twitter.com/CBCAlerts/status/1442951161338728451?s=20

 

[JDG]

CBC News Alerts
@CBCAlerts
·
22m

UPDATE: 33 of the 39 miners who were trapped underground at a northern Ontario mine are now back on the surface. No injuries have been reported. Rescuers are working to free the remaining 6 workers.
https://twitter.com/CBCAlerts/status/1442833161201852419?s=20

‘Working to free …’ is a bit misleading.

The miners ‘only’ needed to be helped up and out on the ladders.

They were safe in the mine as there was no collapse but damage to the shaft.

I had no idea that it would take this long and hope that the remaining few are out soon.

 

[JDG]

The final four miners came to the surface overnight, safe and sound!

All resting at home!

CTV News/Northern Ontario