Rio Tinto miners rescued after three days trapped in Catamarca snowstorm

Four miners employed by Rio Tinto were rescued on Wednesday after being stranded for nearly 72 hours in a severe snowstorm in the Puna region of Catamarca, Argentina. Temperatures fell to as low as ‑27 °C and snow accumulated up to four meters, making the rescue operation difficult. Firefighters, police and local baqueanos coordinated the effort that eventually freed the workers, who had been attempting to assist stranded trucks on Route 43.

Family members and local observers described the incident as a “miracle” but also highlighted major safety failures. Vilma Carrizo, the wife of one trapped miner, recounted losing contact with her husband for days and criticized the lack of a winter emergency protocol, early‑warning system, and a coordinated response from provincial authorities. Environmental specialist Evelyn Vallejos added that the region has long suffered from insufficient oversight of multinational mining operations and called for stricter regulations to protect workers in extreme weather conditions.