Three people die after a landslide in a potash mine in Barcelona

The landslide occurred inside the mine operated by the Iberpotash company, at a depth of 900 meters.

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Three people have died this morning when they were trapped in a potash mine in súria (Barcelona) after a landslide in a gallery, as confirmed by sources from the Generalitat Fire Brigade to the ACN agency. Two of the three victims were master’s students at the Manresa Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering (EPSEM), dependent on the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).

The landslide has occurred inside the mine that exploits the Iberpotash company, 900 meters deep. Iberpotash is part of ICL Iberia, a subsidiary of the ICL group, with headquarters in Israel.

The Generalitat Fire Brigade received the notice at 08:53, and they anticipate that it will take “between two and six hours” to remove the bodies. Before, they will have to make props and remove rune.

The same sources have claimed that “not included or provided” that no other worker has turned out injured or was trapped by the landslide in the mine.

In addition to the firefighters, the emergency services work in the area together with the mine’s emergency services. The Mossos d’Esquadra and resources from the Sistema d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) have also attended.

In a press conference from the scene of the accident, the Minister of Business and Labor, Roger Torrent, has explained that the Mining Department carries out an “exhaustive and periodic control” of the mines in Catalonia and that three weeks ago they inspected those of Cabanasses in Súria, without opening any file. The Minister of the Interior, Joan Ignasi ElenaFor his part, he has assured that they have opened an investigation to determine the causes and that they will take the conclusions to the relevant court.

However, union sources They have pointed out to EFE that “the security measures are not what they should be”.

The President of the Generalitat, Pere Aragones, has expressed his “support for the family of those affected and all his colleagues” at the beginning of the control session in the Parliament of Catalonia. “We are working from the emergency services, giving support to the company’s own services, which are also acting in this tragic accident,” she said.

Second fatal accident at the Súria mine

This is the second fatal accident at the Cabanasses potash mine, in the municipality of Súria. On December 6, 2013, two miners died from a landslide in a mine gallery when they were carrying out repair and maintenance work on machinery on the night shift.