Thursday, October 14, 2010
As the world watched the rescue of 33 miners in Chile, officials at a Kansas salt mine are offering assurances that they are ready should a rescue ever become necessary.
Myron Marcotte, the underground supervisor for Hutchinson Salt Co., says he is confident of the plans in place if a rescue is ever needed in Hutchinson.
The 650-foot-deep salt mine is equipped with a missile-shaped escape capsule similar to those used in the Chile rescue.
Marcotte says miners use the capsule in a 32-inch-wide escape shaft every week, to be sure it is operating correctly.
The Hutchinson News reports that the mine also has a miners' rescue area behind air-locked double doors. It's stocked with water, blankets, fire extinguishers and first aid equipment.
