Yesterday, Vale SA (NYSE: VALE) informed the public that 39 miners were trapped in the underground Totten nickel mine at Sudbury, Ontario, after an incident that occurred on Sunday. There were no injuries, and all employees reported to the refuge stations where they had food, water and communication with the surface.
On Sunday, Sept. 26, a load-haul-dumper bucket slung under the cage became hung up in the shaft, meaning that the shaft and cage access was blocked.
The mine rescue crew reached the trapped miners via the escapeway ladder, and the miners began climbing out on Monday. The last person is expected to exit the mine by mid-day.
"We are relieved and delighted to see these individuals returning to surface safe and sound," Gord Gilpin, Vale's head of mining operations for Ontario said in a news release. "There is no doubt that this was and continues to be an exhausting experience. I comment them on the patience and the resolve. I also want to acknowledge the efforts of our mine rescue team and Totten responders who are working tirelessly to bring their colleagues to surface safely."
Production at Totten was temporarily suspended, and Vale said it is assessing the necessary measures to resume mining.