Rescuers work through night to find Idaho miner

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Rescuers work through night to find Idaho miner
KEITH RIDLER, Associated Press,
SHANNON DININNY, Associated Press
Updated 03:10 a.m., Sunday, April 17, 2011

MULLAN, Idaho (AP) — Rescuers worked Sunday to reach a miner caught in an Idaho cave-in more than a mile underground even as they awaited the arrival of a remote-control digger that will allow them to tunnel more quickly and safely through unstable earth.

The roof of a tunnel at the northern Idaho silver mine collapsed as two brothers were working, trapping one of the men but the other was able to escape, according to officials and family members.

Hecla Mining Company released a statement early Sunday saying teams were working non-stop to reach 53-year-old Larry Marek, a 30-year mining veteran.

They're trying to " safely remove the material needed to access the area where the employee was working," the statement said. "We have completed 20 feet of timber for ground support, and advanced a total of 25 feet."

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Rescuers-work-through-night-to-find-Idaho-miner-1340645.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Digger arrives in Idaho to help with mine rescue

Source: Associated Press

Digger arrives in Idaho to help with mine rescue
Updated 10:35 a.m., Monday, April 18, 2011

MULLAN, Idaho (AP) — A remote-control digger has arrived to help rescue workers advance more quickly toward a trapped northern Idaho silver miner.

But the progress may still be slowed by boulder-sized rocks and time-consuming safety work to shore up tunnels from further collapse.

Crews working to reach 53-year-old Larry Marek have so far dug through 37 feet of earth in the Lucky Friday Mine following the collapse more than a mile underground on Friday.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Digger-arrives-in-Idaho-to-help-with-mine-rescue-1341351.php