Company Provides Update on 3 Miners Trapped Underground in BC

The entrance to the Red Chris mine near Iskut, B.C., is shown on July 23, 2025. The Canadian Press/Dave Middleton

Newmont Corp. has provided an update on three mining workers trapped since the morning of July 22 in a mine near Dease Lake, B.C.

Two “fall of ground” incidents occurred the morning of July 22, leaving three workers stuck in the mine before they made their way to a refuge chamber for safety. Newmont said drones are now being used to assess the best method of extraction in getting past the 30 metres of debris in the underground portion of the mine in which the individuals are stuck.

Fall of ground incidents occur when rock or other materials unexpectedly and uncontrollably collapse from the walls or ceiling of an underground excavation.

Speaking on behalf of Newmont July 24 during a virtual press conference, the company’s global head for health, safety, and security Bernard Wessels gave updates on the emergency response to the situation, saying that all miners are uninjured and safe in a refuge chamber awaiting rescue.

According to Wessels, Newmont last had contact with the individuals July 23 to confirm they were safe and secure in a refuge chamber, and added that getting communication back with the three workers is currently a “priority.”

“That is the work we are doing as we speak, and the teams are focused on trying that communication up and running. So, you know, we obviously want that to happen as soon as possible, and I can’t commit to you that it is happening immediately,” Wessels said. “That’s the work that we are focusing now.”

In terms of how the families of the three mining employees are doing, Wessels said they are being kept informed of any updates.

“So firstly, just on the families, it is certainly our priority, as well as with our partners ... and they have been in consistent contact with the families to make sure that they are being kept up-to-date on what is happening,” Wessels said in response to a question from The Epoch Times. “It goes without saying that the families are shocked, and they are very focused on the work that we are doing, but we are continuing to keep communication with them.”

Wessels noted that outside weather conditions are not a concern for the rescue operation since “this fall of ground happened in one of our underground projects here,” and is “not exposed to the environmental conditions that we see outside.”

In terms of whether the extraction process could worsen the instability of the fall of ground incident areas, Wessels said that Newmont has geotechnical specialists on scene as well as those from the B.C. provincial government who are ensuring that doesn’t happen, noting that the actual area that needs to be cleared is “a very localized program from a geological perspective.”

“We continue to assess the conditions, and throughout the day, as well as yesterday, the conditions are being stable, so certainly not exacerbating, you know, that condition,” he said.

A spokesperson for Newmont told The Epoch Times July 23 that the refuge chamber is stocked with enough food, water, and ventilation for an “extended stay” if necessary. In a July 24 interview with The Epoch Times, professor of mining and engineering Ferri Hassani said that the miners are likely “a bit worried” but overall confident in being rescued. He added that “I think within a week to two weeks ... maximum two weeks, they should be able to get them out.”

In terms of the specific cause of the fall of ground incidents, Wessels said this remains undetermined at this time.

“I don’t want to speculate. I think our first priority is the rescue operation, to get the three individuals out from underground, then we will do an extensive investigation of why this fall of ground incident ... occurred.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.