3 Mine Workers Trapped Behind 30 Metres of Debris in Northern B.C., Rescue Underway

Rescue teams are working around the clock to reach three mine workers trapped underground behind an estimated 30 metres of debris at the Red Chris copper and gold mine in northern British Columbia.

Newmont Corporation, the mine’s operator, confirmed Thursday that the workers are sheltering in a MineARC refuge chamber designed to support 16 people with sufficient air, food, and water for several days. Specialized drones have been deployed to assess geotechnical stability, and a remote-controlled scoop has begun clearing the debris.

The workers were caught underground Tuesday after two rockfall incidents blocked the access tunnel. They had initially moved to safety after the first fall, but communication was lost following the second collapse. The mine, located on Tahltan Nation territory near Dease Lake, approximately 420 kilometres west of Fort Nelson, remains shut down during the rescue.

Though initial reports from B.C. Premier David Eby stated that the miners were from B.C. and Ontario, their employer, Hy-Tech Drilling, later clarified they are from B.C., Ontario, and Manitoba.

A source with direct knowledge of the rescue operation said the first fall occurred about 200 metres into a lateral underground tunnel. The workers were around 600 metres inside when they became trapped. Despite the second rockfall, the refuge chamber where they are located is in a stable and ventilated zone, the source added.

The Red Chris mine, which began open-pit production in 2015, is transitioning to an underground block-cave mining operation — a technique involving excavation beneath the ore body to allow gravity to assist in ore extraction. The trapped workers were reportedly boring an access tunnel as part of preparations for this shift, expected within the next three years.

Hy-Tech Drilling confirmed that the workers are their employees but declined to release their identities. Meanwhile, United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, which represents about 450 Red Chris employees, said the union is monitoring the rescue closely.

UBC geotechnical engineering professor Dwayne Tannant says the rescue must proceed cautiously. “You don’t want to send people over unstable material. It could take days,” he warned, emphasizing the importance of stabilizing the tunnel before removing debris.

Newmont says additional refuge chambers are accessible nearby if needed. The company is working with expert rescue teams and says restoring communication with the workers remains a top priority.

The Red Chris mine is one of several projects fast-tracked by the B.C. government amid growing concerns over U.S. tariffs and the push to strengthen Canadian mineral production.