Authorities said the tunnels of a flooded coal mine, where ten workers were trapped, recorded a “sudden rise in water levels” in northern Mexico, complicating the search and rescue operation.

The water level in Gallery No. 2, which rose to 70 centimeters on Friday and would have theoretically allowed rescuers to pass, reached 12.92 meters yesterday, the authorities said in a statement, adding that “engineers are assessing the situation on site and the reasons for this sudden rise in water levels.” .

In galleries 3 and 4, the water level is 15.5 and 12.5 meters respectively, in other words, it has risen by 8-10 meters compared to the levels recorded on Friday, always as advertised.

“Engineers are preparing a new strategy to be able to divert water from the El Pinabete mine,” the authorities assured.

The news, however, is a very heavy blow to the families of the miners, who in recent days have increasingly expressed concern that the intervention of rescuers will be too late to save their people.

The sister of one of the trapped workers, Magdalena Montelongo, made no secret of her displeasure yesterday. “I have no idea what their new strategy will be,” he told AFP, adding that “they may have lost control of the situation.”

National Civil Protection coordinator and in charge of the operation, Laura Velasquez, was quick to reassure the families, saying that “the captured miners will not be abandoned.”

The members of the rescue teams are doing their best in “excellent conditions,” he explained, pointing out that the El Pinabete mine is located next to the Conchas Norte mine, which was abandoned about thirty years ago because “the water level was too high.” . . .

Mexican authorities assured on Friday that “conditions” now exist to allow divers to enter the flooded mine to find ten missing people.

Thanks to its continuous pumping, the water level dropped to 70 centimeters in one of the three galleries where members of the rescue teams were supposed to enter, and the next day after the incident, on August 3, it reached 30 meters. Defense Minister Luis Cressensio Santoval.

According to Coahuila state governor Miguel Riquelme, an army diver entered one of the galleries (number 4) for a few minutes on Wednesday, but was unable to continue because he found “obstacles” that prevented him from doing so.

Hundreds of rescuers, including divers from the armed forces, are participating in the search for the missing miners. Relatives’ hopes of being found alive have all but vanished given the amount of time that has passed.

According to the authorities, on August 3, the miners were carrying out earthworks when a well with groundwater struck.

The state of Coahuila, where most of Mexico’s coal is produced, has seen a series of fatal mining accidents over the years. The worst happened on February 19, 2006, when 65 miners died in a gas explosion in Pasta de Conchos.