Arrr, 2 scalawags from Mexico sent to Davy Jones' locker in a mishap at an illicit mine!
2023-07-19
Arr, a mishap befallen at an unlawful coal mine in Coahuila, Mexico! Two brave souls met their untimely demise, but fear not, for their mortal remains were duly retrieved, lest ye be worryin'!
In a tragic accident, two miners lost their lives when the cable on their bucket snapped, causing them to plummet down a small coal mine in northern Mexico. The mine was operating illegally, as it had been deemed unsafe after safety violations were discovered in August 2022. The bodies of the deceased miners were later recovered.This is not the first time such a disaster has occurred in the region. In 2022, ten miners were trapped and killed in a flooded coal mine, while in 2021, seven miners met a similar fate at another small mine. These incidents highlight the dangerous nature of these primitive mines, which are often narrow and lack proper safety measures.
Interestingly, the Mexican government had implemented a plan a few years ago to revive coal-fired power plants in the region and prioritize purchasing coal from these small mines. This decision resurrected a type of coal mining that had previously been banned due to its inherent dangers.
Some of these mines, known as "pocitos" or "little wells," are so primitive that only a couple of miners can be lowered into the narrow shaft at a time, extracting only one bucket of coal per trip. There are usually no safety exits or auxiliary shafts, and in some cases, air and water are pumped in and out through plastic hoses. The winches used to extract miners and coal are even powered by old car engines placed on blocks.
While the language of a 17th-century pirate may not fit the tone of this tragic situation, it is essential to recognize the seriousness of the matter and the need for improved safety measures in these mines. The loss of these two miners serves as a reminder that their lives should not be put at risk for the sake of coal extraction.