In the removal of debris from the sinkhole, they find new illegal mining tunnels in the center of Zaruma

Zaruma, THE GOLD

During the removal of debris left by the sinkhole on December 15, 2021, new galleries corresponding to illegal mining activities were detected in the subsoil of the city of Zaruma, in the province of El Oro.

The new underpasses that were detected during this week in the surroundings of the so-called “ground zero” would be connected to the tunnel that caused the recent sinkhole.

The discovery occurred when the machinery removed the remains of two buildings on Ernesto Castro and Colón streets, in the center of the town.

“At less than 40 meters there is evidence of mining work such as galleries, chimneys and tunnels,” said Colonel Enrique Morales, of the Army Corps of Engineers, who added that technical studies will determine the risk for homes in the sector affected by the tunnel. .

One of the tunnels was under a house that was demolished a few days ago in that same area. Illegal miners are presumed to have excavated the mineralized rock.

The owners of the buildings in the center of Zaruma point out that illegal mining has not stopped, even after the sinkhole of December 15 last.

At noon this Thursday, January 6, the visit of the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, is expected. During his stay in the canton, the presentation of the remediation plan in the sector where the sinkhole occurred is scheduled.

“So far, not a dollar has arrived due to the state of exception,” said Jhansy López, mayor of Zaruma.

The Minister of Culture and Heritage, María Elena Machuca, held a meeting with the owners of the three heritage houses that collapsed in the recent sinkhole.

“There are 49 homes that are at risk in the vicinity of the sinkhole,” added the official, and said that it is intended to protect these heritage assets through a comprehensive remediation plan that will be presented in the next few hours by the national government. (I)