3 Miners Trapped Underground After Rockfalls at Northern B.C.'s Red Chris Mine

Three miners remain trapped underground following two "fall of ground" incidents at the Red Chris mine, located on Tahltan Nation territory in northern British Columbia. Premier David Eby confirmed the incident Wednesday, noting the workers are believed to be uninjured and currently sheltering in a designated underground refuge station.

The Red Chris mine, operated by Newmont Corporation, is an open-pit copper and gold operation about 420 kilometres west of Fort Nelson. Newmont reported that the initial rockfall occurred Tuesday morning, prompting the miners — two from B.C. and one from Ontario — to relocate over 500 metres beyond the affected area to a refuge bay, as instructed by safety protocols.

A second rockfall later blocked access to that refuge zone and disrupted communications with the miners, according to Newmont. The company has since halted operations at the site to focus entirely on the emergency response and re-establishing contact.

"The refuge stations are self-contained and equipped with adequate food, water, and ventilation to support an extended stay," said a Newmont spokesperson. "Our top priority remains the safety of the three individuals underground, as well as the emergency response teams."

Premier Eby emphasized that B.C.’s highly trained mine rescue teams are actively engaged in the operation. “Our rescue crews are among the best in the world and are working tirelessly to bring these miners home safely,” he said during a press briefing at the First Ministers meeting in Huntsville, Ontario.

Newmont says all appropriate protocols were activated immediately after the incident. The company is evaluating all available technologies and strategies to ensure a safe extraction of the trapped miners.

The Red Chris mine has been operational since 2015 and is jointly owned by Newmont (70%) and Imperial Metals (30%). Further updates from the company and provincial authorities are expected as the situation develops.