Rescuers are working to reach at least 25 miners trapped in a gold mine landslide in northern Nicaragua.
Marta Lagos, of the ruling Sandinista Party, said rescuers have heard voices and presume that all those trapped are alive.
Ms Lagos told Channel 4 today that they are working to establish contact through an old mine shaft and searching for old tunnels to reach the miners.
The slide occurred yesterday at the El Comal gold and silver mine in the town of Bonanza, about 260 miles north-east of Managua.
Authorities did not receive word until late yesterday when the mine lost contact with the workers, who are believed to be about 50ft underground.
Gregorio Downs, a spokesman for mine operator Hemco, told the government’s news website that 26 miners were trapped and the company initially had contact with them.
But he said apparently there were more slides inside after the initial one.
Ms Lagos said one of the miners escaped but provided no details. The government’s news website said today that two had been rescued.
According to the website of Nicaragua-based Hemco, the company has mined in the north Atlantic municipality since 1995 and employs 532 workers, who process 700 tons of material a day.
The company says it produces more than 2,500 pounds of gold a year and is Nicaragua’s 12th largest exporter.