Mexico's efforts to save 10 miners who became trapped in a flooded coal mine 13 days ago hit another setback as underground water levels surged higher, officials said Monday.

MORE: The miners became confined underground at the Pinabete mine in the border state of Coahuila on August 3 when their excavation work led a tunnel wall to collapse and unleashed flooding.

The surge came from the nearby Conchas Norte mine, which closed due to flooding in 1996 and has since accumulated nearly 2 million cubic meters (528 million gallons) of water, said Laura Velazquez, head of Mexico's civil protection agency.

Engineers now plan to seal off the Pinabete and Conchas Norte mines from one another while continuing to pump water out of Pinabete, Velazquez said.

Mexican officials last week managed to reduce water depths at Pinabete, in the Sabinas municipality, that had initially topped about 30 meters (100 feet). But by Monday the water levels rushed back to their heights at the time of the collapse, in one shaft reaching more than 41 meters (135 feet).

(Reuters)

[ Ссылка ]

» Subscribe to VOA News: [ Ссылка ]
» Watch more VOA News video: [ Ссылка ]

Voice of America (VOA) is the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of 236.8 million people. VOA produces content for digital, television, and radio platforms. It is easily accessed via your mobile phone and on social media. It is also distributed by satellite, cable, FM and MW, and is carried on a network of approximately 3,000 affiliate stations.

Since its creation in 1942, Voice of America has been committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth. Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press.

Connect with VOA News:

» VISIT OUR WEBSITE: [ Ссылка ]
» LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: [ Ссылка ]
» FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: [ Ссылка ]
» FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть