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Two Ecuador miners dead; two missing

By The CNN Wire Staff
A woman grieves upon hearing that the body of her husband was found after a mine collapse in Ecuador.
A woman grieves upon hearing that the body of her husband was found after a mine collapse in Ecuador.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Two bodies are recovered at a collapsed Ecuador mine
  • The fate of two others is still not known
  • They may have enough air for a few more days

(CNN) -- The bodies of two of four miners believed trapped in a collapsed mine in southern Ecuador have been found, officials said Saturday.

Paul Aguirre and Walter Vera, chief of the mine, both died, according to El Ciudadano, Ecuador's government-run news service.

Vera is the brother of Angel Vera, who, along with Pedro Mendoza, have yet to be located.

The miners have been trapped since about 3 a.m. Friday, said Jorge Espinosa, the under-secretary of mining development at Ecuador's Ministry of Nonrenewable Natural Resources. They are about 500 feet (150 meters) deep.

The gold mine, which officials say is owned by Minesadco, is located near the town of Portovelo, near Ecuador's southern border with Peru.

Espinosa on Friday estimated there was enough air for the miners to breathe for five or six days.

The incident comes two days after crews in Chile rescued 33 miners who were trapped underground for 69 days in a stunning rescue operation that was watched by the world.