Body of miner found four months after blast

Rescuers have found the first of 65 bodies believed to have been left in a northern Mexican mine following a February explosion, a Mexican newspaper reported today.

The body was found about dawn as workers were removing debris from one of the shafts at the Pasta de Conchos mine in northern Coahuila state, the Reforma newspaper said, citing a spokeswoman from mine owner Grupo Mexico.

An estimated 65 miners were killed in the February 19 explosion at the mine near San Juan Sabinas, about 85 miles southwest of the Texas border.

Relatives of the victims said the Pasta de Conchos was unsafe and workers had inadequate equipment, prompting more than 5,000 members of Mexico’s Mining and Metal Workers Union to go on strike over safety issues.

Grupo Mexico has offered each family about 72,000 dollars in compensation, in addition to pensions, insurance and other benefits they are entitled to by law.

The company said it will set up a fund for the education of the dead workers’ children up to college graduation and will also pay their wages until the other benefits are processed.

The union said it is asking for at least double what the company is offering.