The relatives of the 10 miners trapped in a mine in Sabinas in the state of Coahuila were informed this Thursday by the Civil Protection office that the rescue of their loved ones may take six to 11 months, they told the media. .
The men have been in the El Pinabete coal mine since August 3 after they came across an area of water that caused a flood.
Since then their relatives have criticized the response of the authorities who have not been able to reach the 65-meter-deep vertical well in which the men remain.
“Since it began, they tell us the same: that the water has not gone down and when it did, they did
not want to go down to the mine and they did not want the miners themselves to do it,
that is why we are dissatisfied, we are angry, because it could have been done from the beginning but they didn't want to.
I don't know what they are afraid of," Salma Tijerina, sister of Hugo Tijerina, one of the miners, told the Mexican newspaper Milenio.
Relatives attend a press conference in the community of Agujita, Sabinas municipality, Coahuila state, Mexico, on August 14, 2022.Getty Images
Laura Velásquez, the director of Civil Protection, communicated the plan to those who are waiting for their relatives, according to what they themselves said.
They do not feel satisfied and say that they will not accept it.
"We want them to be delivered to us and not be late
," said a woman in a video that circulated in local media.
In the video, another woman assures that they were also offered financial compensation but that they will not receive it.
Since August 3, the status of the men is unknown.
[These are the 10 miners trapped in a Coahuila mine]
The strategy, according to relatives, consists of making open pits, which implies an exploitation of the surface of the mine.
a difficult rescue
On August 10, the Civil Protection Office assured that they were hopeful that the rescue would be carried out
in "a matter of hours."
However, weather conditions have made access difficult, according to the government.
Until now the level of the water produced by the rains has not allowed safe conditions for the rescue, the authorities have tried to remove the water with pumps to lower the level and have also tried to seal the passage of water with concrete to prevent the well from collapsing. keep flooding.
They were saved from the collapse of the mine in Mexico and are working hard to rescue their colleagues
Aug. 11, 202202:01
On Wednesday, the federal government assured that any of the rescue strategies will prioritize the safety of the rescuers, according to Animal Politico.
The Government's offer is still controversial as relatives say they have been denied details of the rescue operation during these weeks.
[AMLO visits the mine in Coahuila where 10 workers remain trapped]
"We already distrust them because they hide information from us,
that's why we are distrusting them," said Salma Tijerina, who added that the five miners who managed to get out alive are being denied their payments.
The Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, assured in his press conference on Thursday that as soon as the relatives approve the plan, the details will be announced.
“Today they are going to be presented with the plan and they are going to be asked for their consent,” assured the president.
