All 72 miners rescued from Canadian mine

30/01/2006 - 15:46:27
Rescuers retrieved all 72 Canadian potash miners who had been trapped underground by a fire, and officials said today all the men were in good health.

The fire broke out yesterday morning in the potash mine in central Canada, filling the tunnels with toxic smoke and sending the miners to take refuge in the sealed emergency rooms.

The 72 miners were trapped when a fire started in polyethylene piping more than a half-mile underground. When toxic smoke began to fill the tunnels, the miners retreated to so-called refuge stations – spacious chambers that can be sealed off and are equipped with supplies of oxygen, food and water.