Three Miners Trapped in Northern B.C.’s Red Chris Mine; Rescue Operations Underway

Dease Lake, British Columbia, July 24, 2025 – A major rescue operation is underway at the Red Chris copper and gold mine in northwestern British Columbia, where three miners have been trapped underground following two rockfall incidents on Tuesday morning. The workers, believed to be uninjured, are currently sheltered in a designated refuge station equipped with food, water, and ventilation, according to Newmont Corporation, the mine’s majority owner.

British Columbia Premier David Eby announced the incident on Wednesday during a press conference at the Council of Federation meeting in Huntsville, Ontario. “There was an accident. There are three miners that are currently trapped underground. They are, to the best of our knowledge, uninjured and in a refuge area,” Eby stated. He emphasized the expertise of the rescue teams, saying, “B.C. miners are the best in the world, our rescue teams are exceptional, and they will be working overtime to bring these workers home safely to their families.” Two of the trapped miners are from British Columbia, and one is from Ontario.

The Incident

The Red Chris mine, located on Tahltan Nation territory near Dease Lake, approximately 420 kilometers west of Fort Nelson, is an open-pit copper and gold mine that has been operational since 2015. The mine, jointly owned by Newmont (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%), is transitioning to underground block-cave mining, a technique that involves extracting ore from below by undercutting the deposit. The trapped miners, identified as contractors from Hy-Tech Drilling, a Smithers-based company, were working on a non-producing underground project when the incident occurred.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the operation, the first “fall of ground” incident occurred 200 meters into a lateral tunnel, with the miners located approximately 600 meters inside, beyond the affected area. After the initial collapse, the workers were directed to relocate to a self-contained refuge station, where they confirmed their safety. A second rockfall then blocked the access tunnel and disrupted communication with the surface, prompting Newmont to suspend all operations at the mine to focus on the rescue effort.

Refuge Stations and Safety Measures

Refuge stations are critical safety features in underground mines, mandated by British Columbia’s mining regulations to be located within 500 meters of main work areas. These sealed chambers are equipped with food, water, ventilation, and communication systems to sustain workers during emergencies. Newmont reported that the refuge bays in the affected area are designed to support up to 16 people for three days, and the three miners have access to multiple bays, ensuring supplies for an extended stay. Nolan Paquette, a business agent for United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, which represents about 450 Red Chris workers, noted that the stations likely have provisions for at least a week.

Dwayne Tannant, a geotechnical engineering expert at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, explained that refuge stations are primarily designed to protect workers from toxic air in emergencies like underground fires. “In the case of Red Chris, they probably have gone there just to wait until people get through and rescue them,” Tannant said.

Rescue Efforts

Newmont is leading the rescue operation, with support from specialized mine rescue teams from nearby sites, including the Brucejack mine, approximately 100 kilometers south of Red Chris. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation expedited a permit to allow heavy equipment to be transferred from Brucejack to aid in clearing the blocked tunnel. A geotechnical inspector from the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals has also been dispatched to the site to assist.

Shawn Rideout, chief mine rescue officer at Workplace Safety North in Ontario, expressed confidence in the rescue mission, despite not being directly involved. He noted that the loss of communication is challenging but that the refuge stations’ supplies ensure the miners’ safety for days, provided air quality remains stable. “What the rescue teams will do is gather information to understand the extent of the damage from the fall of ground so they can prepare and safely get to these workers,” Rideout said.

B.C. Mining Minister Jagrup Brar praised the mining industry’s collaborative response, stating, “I’m heartened to see the immediate support that’s been provided from others across the mining industry, in the form of supplies, equipment, and expertise.” Premier Eby, who has been in contact with Ontario Premier Doug Ford regarding the Ontario miner, reiterated the province’s commitment to the rescue effort.

Community and Industry Response

The incident has sparked concern across British Columbia’s mining community and beyond. On social media platform X, users expressed hope for a swift rescue, with some sharing personal connections to the mine. One user wrote, “My buddy’s son works there and fortunately he’s not one of the guys that are trapped. I feel for everybody involved.” Another commented, “Safety systems and communications saved lives. Hopefully they don’t have to stay long in the refuge station.”

The trapped workers are not members of United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, according to Paquette, who described the situation as unprecedented in his experience. Hy-Tech Drilling confirmed the miners are their employees but declined to release their names out of respect for their privacy.

Outlook

As rescue operations continue, Newmont is exploring all available technologies to restore communication and safely extract the miners. The company has not provided a timeline for the rescue, citing the complexity of clearing the blocked access route. The B.C. ambulance service is monitoring the situation, and the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals is overseeing regulatory compliance.

The Red Chris mine incident underscores the inherent risks of underground mining, particularly during transitions to new extraction methods like block caving. For now, the focus remains on bringing the three miners—two from B.C. and one from Ontario—safely back to the surface, as their families, colleagues, and the broader community await updates.

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