2 Dead, 15 Injured in Ecuador Mine Blast

World | November 27, 2007, Tuesday // 00:00

At least two miners have been killed and about 15 other injured in a blast in a gold mine in southern Ecuador, BBC reported Tuesday.

The explosion occurred at about 1800 local time (2300 GMT) in the village of Ponce Enriquez in Azuay province.

Unconfirmed reports claim some of the workers were trapped underground by the blast.

According to firefighters, emergency services were at the scene, but they were being hampered by the dark.

Authorities say they do not yet know what caused the explosion, said to have happened in a warehouse holding explosives outside the mine.

A local firefighter chief said emergency crews have recovered from the rubble seven bodies, and sent 40 injured people to area hospitals. There are also some 30 people reported missing.

A spokesman for the company, which owns the mine, said the victims are two.

"There are no miners trapped as it has been said," he added.
Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea announced that about 60 miners were trapped underground.

The minister said the explosion "demonstrates the need for responsible mining in Ecuador".

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

World » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria