Search for missing miners called off in Nicaragua

The search for seven more miners trapped in landslide at a gold mine in Nicaragua was called off as rescue teams determined there was no longer hope of reaching them, the government said on Sept. 2.

At least 29 miners were trapped on Thursday, Aug. 28 after heavy rains sparked a landslide at the mine in the Bonanza project, about 420 km (260 miles) northeast of Managua, which was closed around four years ago after being deemed unsafe.

By Saturday, 22 of the miners had been rescued.

However, by late Monday the rescue crews had decided there was no way of continuing the search and called off their efforts, said government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo, the wife of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.

The mine was seriously affected by seasonal rains in the past, with another landslide two months ago killing two miners, according to Mineros S.A., the Colombian parent company of Nicaraguan miner Hemco, which operated the mine.

Although operations were ended, informal miners continued to work the mine against the orders of Hemco, the firm said.