Rescuers hope trapped miners still alive

MEXICO: Rescuers burrowing deep into the ground had yet to reach 65 trapped miners Tuesday nearly three days after an explosion inside the northern Mexico coal mine caused a cave-in.

Rescue teams have been unable to use heavy machinery to dig a tunnel for fear of triggering another explosion due to gas inside the pit, forcing them to use shovels, picks and even bare hands to reach the trapped workers.

Late Tuesday, rescuers were 50 meters (165 feet) from where a first group of miners is believed to be located in the Pasta de Conchos mine near San Juan de Sabinas in northern Mexico, said civil protection director Arturo Vilchis.

Authorities have not had any contact with the miners since the early Sunday explosion trapped them 150 meters (500 feet) below ground, but rescuers clung to the hope that they were still alive. "We continue going forward," Vilchis said.

The diggers were hit by a setback when part of their tunnel caved-in, forcing them to start over, he said. Vilchis added that there were excessive levels of gas in some parts of the mine.

The miners are believed to be trapped between 700 and 1,200 meters (2,300-4,000 feet) along the two-kilometer-long (1.25 miles) tunnel since 2:00 am (0800 GMT) Sunday.

Relatives of the miners have kept a vigil outside the facility, praying for a miracle as they desperately await for news about their fathers, brothers and sons. San Juan de Sabinas,Wednesday AFP