Five Mexican miners die as elevator plummets

Mexico City: Five miners died when an elevator they were riding in plunged down a shaft at a zinc and silver mine in northern Mexico, officials said Friday.

The accident took place on Wednesday and the bodies were recovered the next day in the Charcas mine in the state of San Luis Potosi, said state government spokesman Roberto Naif. The elevator the men had been using was normally used to haul materials, officials said. Grupo Mexico, one of the country`s largest mining companies, operates the mine. The National Human Rights Commission sent a team to investigate the accident and offer psychological and legal support to the victims` families. Non-government organizations have complained about weak safety standards in Mexican mines, expecially in coal pits in the northern state of Coahuila.