IHDNj calls for the immediate rescue of the miners in Trepça and the launch of investigations

The Institute for Research and Human Rights (IHDNj) has expressed concern about the situation at the Stanterg mine, where, according to it, 64 miners have been trapped underground.

In a statement on the case, IHDNj asked the responsible institutions and teams to commit fully to rescuing and safely bringing out the miners.

According to the institute, the miners are spread across levels 11, 10, 9 and 8, at depths reaching around 645 metres.

“Their lives and safety must be the absolute priority. Every minute matters, and the rescue operation must be carried out with urgency, professionalism and full coordination,” IHDNj said in its statement.

The institute said that, according to information so far, the miners are being brought out through emergency routes, while the relevant teams are working to enable their safe extraction.

Besides the rescue operation, IHDNj also called for a full clarification of the circumstances of the incident, including the causes and the functioning of safety mechanisms, equipment and procedures.

In this regard, the institute called on the competent Prosecution to launch full, independent and impartial investigations.

“The investigation must determine whether there were violations of workplace safety rules, institutional negligence, equipment malfunction or other individual and institutional responsibilities,” the statement said.

IHDNj stressed that those responsible, if identified, must be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The institute also recalled an earlier study of its, titled “The Invisible Workers of the Underground”, through which, it says, the difficult working conditions and professional risks miners face were documented.

According to IHDNj, during their work miners face exposure to dust, gases, heavy physical loads and other risks that can have consequences for their health and safety.

“Miners’ safety cannot become a topic only when an incident happens. It must be guaranteed every day, on every shift and on every metre underground,” the statement said further.

IHDNj asked that, after the rescue operation is completed, a full assessment be made of the state of the mine, the equipment, the infrastructure, the emergency routes and the safety procedures.

The institute also called for full transparency and concrete measures to prevent similar cases from being repeated, as Telegrafi reports.