Nicaragua Calls off Search for Missing Miners

(MENAFN- QNA) Nicaragua's government said Wednesday it called off a search for as many as seven missing miners because cave-ins made the effort too dangerous to continue, and hopes have faded that anyone could be found alive after five days.

Nicaragua's first lady and government spokeswoman, Rosario Murillo, said continuing the effort would put more lives at risk. Murillo told the Chanel 4 television station that experts admitted that any rescue would be impossible due to the risk involved.

Originally, authorities had said four miners remained trapped, but workers at the wildcat mine said all along that more men had been in the mine when it partly collapsed.

At least 26 miners were originally trapped by the collapse at the El Comal gold and silver mine near Bonanza, about 260 miles (420 kilometers) northeast of Managua. Twenty-two were rescued alive.