Francisco Zapata Nájera, 42, was rescued alive from the Santa Fe mine in El Rosario, Sinaloa, after over 14 days trapped following a March 25 collapse. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed his prior location and highlighted the coordinated rescue efforts by federal and state authorities. Search continues for the last trapped worker.
On March 25, a tailings dam collapse at the Santa Fe mine in El Rosario, Sinaloa, caused flooding that trapped four of 25 workers present; 21 escaped on their own.
José Alejandro Cástulo was the first miner rescued alive after over 100 hours under rubble. On April 7, divers located Francisco Zapata Nájera alive in a flooded area, but extraction was delayed due to accumulated water. On April 8, past 10:30 a.m., he was rescued, stabilized, and airlifted by Mexican Air Force helicopter to Mazatlán General Hospital, showing dehydration and physical exhaustion.
That same day, authorities found a third worker dead, initiating forensic procedures. President Claudia Sheinbaum lamented the discovery and expressed hope for the fourth miner's rescue, stating: “We hope that today this person who remained 14 days in the Santa Fe mine can already come out, incredibly, fortunately found alive.”
Efforts involve the Secretariat of National Defense, Navy, Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, National Civil Protection Coordination, and mining company personnel, with ongoing water pumping to enable access.
