Day 15 of 'Hopeless' Search for Trapped Bulgarian Miners

The July 16 deadly collapse is the fourth major accident in the Oranovo mine in southwestern Bulgaria in the past eight years. Photo by BGNES

The search for two miners trapped in a mine collapse in southwestern Bulgaria has entered its 15th day Tuesday.

The Oranovo coal mine near the town of Simitli collapsed two weeks ago, on July 16.

Two miners died then and two others remain trapped inside with no hope to find them alive. Colleagues, looking for them, say they do not respond to their knocks on the mine's railroad tracks.

The rescue effort was downgraded to search last Friday.

The teams have reached Tuesday the 26th meter from the 33-meter long detour gallery. They use the following cycle – explosive, aeration, and removal of the excavated coal and advance by an average of 4 meters every 24 hours. It is expected that on Wednesday evening or no later than Thursday they will reach the spot where the two are believed to be.

Experts say it will be a true miracle to find them alive, but close ones still believe in a happy outcome.

Meanwhile, several Bulgarian media published pictures of the mine's concessionaire, Krasimir Mihaylov's son Krassen leading a lavish life in London and Saint Tropez. A new one of Krassen's Lamborghini Aventador, recently purchased by the father for BGN 800 000, was added Monday.

The pictures have been leaked anonymously and their authenticity is not yet confirmed.

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