Home / Disasters and Accidents / Astonishing Rescue: Mexican Miner Saved After Two Weeks
Astonishing Rescue: Mexican Miner Saved After Two Weeks
9 Apr
Summary
- Miner Francisco Zapata Nájera rescued after 13 days trapped underground.
- A dam breach flooded the El Rosario mine on March 25, trapping miners.
- One miner confirmed dead, another still missing from the accident.
Francisco Zapata Nájera, a miner in Mexico, has been rescued after being trapped underground for nearly two weeks. He was rescued on Tuesday, 13 days after a dam breach caused a structural failure that flooded the El Rosario mine in Sinaloa on March 25.
Rescuers located Zapata Nájera but faced significant challenges navigating heavily flooded areas, requiring 21 hours to reach him. President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the rescue efforts, highlighting the resilience of the miner and the Mexican Army's Emergency Response Battalion.
During the initial accident, 25 miners were present, with 21 escaping immediately. One survivor was rescued five days later from a depth of 985 feet. Sadly, one miner has been confirmed deceased, and another is still missing.
The rescued miner's condition was stabilized, and he was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Mazatlán for specialized care. This incident brings to mind past mining tragedies in Mexico, including the 2006 Pasta de Conchos mine explosion that killed 65 workers and the 2022 El Pinabete coal mine flooding that claimed 10 lives.
