Seven Idaho Miners Injured in Rock Burst

Seven miners injured in an Idaho mine accident were pulled safely out of the mile-deep facility, the operator of the mine said Thursday.

The miners were injured due to a rock burst at the Lucky Friday mine near Mullan, Idaho, the operator Hecla Mining Company said in a statement. No miners were killed and all seven sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

This year, in three accidents at the mine, two workers have been killed.

“We are thankful that all employees are out of the mine and have been accounted for, and that those injured have been treated,” Phil Baker, the CEO of Hecla, said in a statement.

Following the accident, Baker said he ordered the mine shut down, “and once we have cared for our people, we will be investigating the cause of the seismic activity.”

The company said that no mine blasting had taken place within the last 24 hours, adding that the rock burst—a violent breaking of rock that occurs in deep mines due to pressure—was likely caused by seismic activity.

The accident occurred more than 5,900 feet below the earth’s surface.