Man rescued two weeks after Mexico mine collapse

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

SINALOA: A 42-year-old miner, Francisco Zapata Nájera, was rescued Wednesday after being trapped for 14 days in a flooded gold and silver mine in northwestern Mexico. Zapata was found alive by military divers approximately 300 meters (985 feet) underground following a search operation that lasted more than 300 hours.

The ordeal began on March 25 when a structural failure attributed to a waterproofing malfunction caused an embankment to collapse and flood the Santa Fe mine. While 21 workers managed to escape immediately, four were trapped. 

One miner was rescued five days after the collapse, while two others were confirmed dead. President Claudia Sheinbaum described the rescue as ‘incredible,’ as specialized teams used high-capacity pumps to lower water levels in the tunnels before divers could safely extract Zapata.

According to rescue officials, Zapata survived by staying in a pocket of waist-deep water. Divers eventually located him after spotting the flashing light of his torch, which he used to signal his location. Despite his prolonged isolation, Zapata remained stable and was airlifted to a hospital in Mazatlán for specialist care. The incident has once again focused national attention on safety standards in Mexico's mining sector, which remains one of the country's most hazardous industries.

The rescue marks a rare moment of relief in a week dominated by regional news of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and ongoing military operations in Lebanon. Mexican authorities have stated that investigations into the mine's structural integrity and safety protocols are ongoing to prevent similar disasters in the future.