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Allison Hills Earthquake Collapses Mine Shaft; 18 Trapped Inside
Outpost News Service

June 9, 2014

An earthquake centered 70 miles southwest of the city of Allison struck the mining community and vicinity just after midday today. A mine shaft owned and maintained by the Hernandez Mining Consortium, whose Outpost headquarters are located in Silver Beach, collapsed as a result of the quake and trapped eighteen men and women behind an impenetrable wall of dirt and rock. Rescue operations are underway to extract the miners, and rescue workers are encouraged by communications with the trapped men and women that indicate all eighteen have thus far suffered only minor injuries. It is not known how difficult or time-consuming the process will be, but Consortium president Michael Hernandez has pledged to spare no expense or effort to save his employees.

This is the third quake in the past year and the most severe, felt as far away as Tifton and Silver Beach, and the mine collapse in the Allison Hills has once more raised questions about safety and the commitment of the mining corporations to protecting their workers. "There have been concerns about the Hernandez operations for months," said local labor leader Tina Omorede. "For a disaster of these proportions to have to occur in order to prove our allegations, it's just tragic." Hernandez Consortium spokesman Adam Richardson said as part of a prepared statement, "The Hernandez Mining Consortium believes very strongly in the safety of its employees. No concerns were registered with our offices prior to the incident, or they would have been acted upon. We are nothing without our employees."

The disaster comes as the town prepares to welcome home its fledgling baseball team, which has been travelling for nearly a month. The Allison Spelunkers have announced that all gate proceeds from their upcoming games against the Marsein Knights will be donated to the rescue effort and the families affected by the quake, and the visiting Knights have pledged to assist in the rebuilding of damaged homes and buildings in the city of Allison. Michael Hernandez, the president of Hernandez Mining Consortium, is currently in Elliott Springs with the Silver Beach Whales, the team he owns in the Bay League, and is collecting donations there as well.