Peru making all-out efforts to rescue mine workers trapped in Ica

Peruvian Prime Minister Oscar Valdes said the government is making all-out efforts to rescue the nine mine workers trapped underground by a rockfall at the Cabeza de Negro copper and gold mine in the south of the country. "Peru and the state are filled with solidarity. We are all together to rescue these nine lives," he told reporters.

He said the families of the miners "are satisfied with the fact that the government will make all-out efforts to rescue them as soon as possible."

Valdes said he is coordinating food provisions to ensure the continuity of the rescue work, and noted that the government is working in coordination with the National Police and Civil Defense.

He also announced that the Minister of Energy and Mines, Jorge Merino, is calling for all mining companies nearby to support the rescue work.

"We want to rescue them as soon as possible, but the engineer in charge of the rescue said it would be in one or two days," he said.

(END) JOT/LVT
Published: 4/9/2012