A tragic incident in northern Mexico claimed the lives of two miners when the cable supporting their transport bucket snapped, sending them plummeting down a mine shaft. The accident occurred on Tuesday in Coahuila, a state bordering the United States. The Labor Department confirmed the fatalities and revealed that the mine was operating illegally, having been cited for safety violations and restricted from operation since August 2022.

Following the inspection and subsequent restrictions, the mine continued its operations illicitly, leading to the fatal accident. The bodies of both miners have been recovered. This incident sadly echoes previous mining tragedies in the region. In 2022, ten miners lost their lives in a flooded coal mine in the same area, while seven miners perished in a similar small-scale mine in 2021.

Three years ago, the Mexican government implemented a plan to revitalize coal-fired power plants in northern Mexico, prioritizing coal purchases from smaller mines. This initiative inadvertently revived a highly dangerous form of coal mining that lawmakers had attempted to prohibit a decade earlier. These primitive mines, often referred to as "pocitos" or "little wells," are notoriously hazardous due to their cramped conditions, allowing only a few miners and a single coal bucket at a time. Many lack proper ventilation and safety exits, relying on plastic hoses for air supply and water removal. Some even operate without these basic precautions, making them inherently unsafe. The winches used to hoist miners and coal are frequently powered by repurposed car engines, further highlighting the precarious nature of these operations.