SAN JUAN DE SABINAS, Mexico - A gas explosion in a coal mine in northern Mexico on Tuesday killed three miners, injured one and left 11 others trapped deep underground. Officials said chances were slim that anyone could have survived the massive blast.Labour Secretary Javier Lozano said mine employees found the bodies of three miners at the front of the blast area, and given the size of the explosion and its force, "the outlook is very bad."
"The truth is that it does not allow us to hold out much hope," said Lozano, who was at the mine located in San Juan de Sabinas, Coahuila state, about 85 miles (135 kilometres) southwest of Eagle Pass, Texas.
He noted the blast was so strong that it severely wounded a 15-year-old boy who had been working on a conveyor belt outside the mine pit separating coal from tailings.
The boy was taken to a hospital in serious condition, said Jesus Espinoza, a spokesman for mining company BIMSA. Federal prosecutors later said both the boy's arms had been amputated and that he remained in serious condition.
Lozano said the boy's employment at the mine was an apparent violation of labour laws.
The announcement of the three deaths came just after Mexico said it was calling in mine rescue experts from Chile to help in the effort.
President Felipe Calderon called on Mexicans "to pray that they are still alive."
Lozano said five mine employees who had been lowered into the mine tunnel were able to operate safely, and that the gas appeared to have dissipated.
A wailing cry went up from about 80 relatives and friends of the trapped miners gathered at the site when a truck from the local morgue showed up at the mine. Read More
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