Two miners were seriously injured on Wednesday following a partial collapse inside a shaft located in the Barranco de Badajoz area of Güímar, in Tenerife.
The incident occurred at a depth of approximately 450 metres while the workers were carrying out excavation tasks.
The Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES) received the alert at 11:45am from the miners themselves, who managed to reach the surface using the shaft's material extraction lift system, as there was no mobile coverage inside the tunnel.
According to emergency services, the collapse occurred when a stone wall inside the mine shaft gave way, partially trapping both men. However, they were able to free themselves and call for help once above ground.
Emergency resources were quickly mobilised and the Local Police were the first to arrive on the scene and assess the situation. The two miners, both residents of La Victoria, received immediate medical attention on site.
One of them, aged 61-years-old, sustained multiple injuries classified as very serious and was transported to the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. The second worker, who is younger, also suffered multiple injuries described as serious and was taken to the same hospital.
Following the incident, police officers sealed off the entrance to the affected mine shaft and began official procedures. A joint investigation has now been launched involving the Güímar Local Police and the Canary Islands Mining Authority to determine the causes of the collapse and any potential negligence.
