Bonao, Monsignor Nouel.– The president Louis Abinader visited the Cerro Maimón mine this Thursday morning, where two miners with whom he spoke on the radio and sent messages of faith and hope and asked them to remain calm.
As explained by the Presidency in a statement, the president spoke with the Dominican Gregory Alexander Méndez, and the Colombian Carlos Yépez Ospina and told him that both the Government and the mining company do everything humanly possible to highlight it.
The head of state also ordered that one of the tunnel boring machines of the Office for the Reorganization of Transport and Terrestrial Traffic (OPRET) that is being used for the construction of the subway in Los Alcarrizos be mobilized to the mining company to reinforce the rescue work of the miners.
You may also like: They warn of mine closure if 2 trapped workers die
“Our focus is getting those two people out alive and that’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re sending you the subway teams, we’re calling Canada to have a third rescue option. We are doing everything possible to save those lives,” said President Abinader when speaking with the media.
The president indicated that the Dominican Méndez and the Colombian Yépez Ospina are in good spirits and that the company has been in charge of supplying them with water, food and medical services. He also pointed out that three times a day they check his health status to keep control of any situation.
«I promised Gregory and Carlos that I was going to receive them at the Palace, and the Dominican’s response was: Well, you are going to receive the most jevi Dominican, and the most chimbe Colombian. With that response, what I want to say is that they are in good spirits and hopeful,” said the head of state when speaking to the press.
Abinader added that two accesses have been made and another is being considered with Canadian experts to speed up the rescue of the miners.
Conversation of the President with miners
“Carlos Yépez, Luis Abinader here, president of the Dominican Republic, we are here supporting you with everything we can together with the Cormidom company to see how we can get you out as soon as possible,” said the president when speaking with Colombian.
The head of state asked the international consultant Carlos Yépez how they felt, to which he replied: “Yes, sir, very pleased, it’s nice to have you so close, but we are fine, thank God, my partner and I.”
President Abinader, when speaking with the miner Méndez, told him that the government is working to get them out of there as soon as possible.
“We are here with all the resources that the Government has and also seeking all the international help to get them out as soon as possible, we are very hopeful that the operations that are being carried out will be very successful,” said President Abinader.
He reiterated that the important thing is that you remain strong and with the hope that the entire Dominican people, the government, the Cormidon company and your relatives are attentive to get you and your Colombian friend Carlos Yepez out as soon as possible.
In addition, the young miner said “we are always doing something, relaxing, we talk about many plans that we have to fulfill because we also have children and we want to be strong for them, we have things to accomplish when we leave here.”
“Don’t be sad that we are fine, thanks to all of you for the unconditional support you have given, step by step, we know you are working because you can hear from here,” said Méndez.
On his side, Gregory Méndez thanked President Abinader for the support that both the Government and the Dominican people have given him.
“Thank you, for this support, but don’t worry about us because we are doing quite well and we are happy to hear that all of you are there and even more you, the president, that although we have not seen you personally, one already feels famous and important because talking to you like this and that he has freed himself from important things to talk to us and give us this support, he feels good and good,” Méndez said.
President Abinader extended an invitation to the two trapped miners as soon as they are rescued to the National Palace with their entire family.
Likewise, President Abinader spoke with the relatives of the miners who watch over the integrity of their relatives.
Cormidom’s vice president, Elizabeth Mena, stated that everything humane possible is being done to rescue the two miners as quickly and safely as possible.
He assured that they have a rescue team of around 70 people who are working for 24 hours. He added that they are in a fairly controlled area in terms of oxygen.
Government support for rescuers
The Ministry of Health sent psychologists to the scene to maintain constant communication with the trapped miners and thus provide encouragement. Similarly, it is in the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of the Environment.
The General Director of Mining, Rolando Muñoz Mejía, stressed that to date they have executed the plan designed since the fact that it was constant communication with the miners, providing medical supplies. He reported that to date 23 meters have been advanced to rescue the workers.
