Mine collapses in Spain, three workers killed

(Patria) - Three workers were killed today in the collapse of a potash mine in northeastern Spain, the regional union USOC announced.

The mine collapse in the town of Suria occurred just before 9 AM local time, about 900 meters underground, firefighters said, without providing further details.

"We want to express our deepest condolences to the families of the three colleagues who lost their lives this morning while doing their job," USOC announced.

ICL Group Ltd, headquartered in Tel Aviv, whose subsidiary Iberpotash manages the mine, announced that an "unfortunate underground accident" had occurred, prior to the announcement of the deaths of the three workers.

The mine is located about 80 kilometers north of Barcelona in the Catalonia region.

- I want to offer all support to the miners' families, as well as to all their colleagues at the mine in Suria - said Pere Aragones, regional president of Catalonia, to the local parliament.

In December 2013, two workers were killed in a mine collapse in Suria, Iberpotash announced at the time.

Potash is used as fertilizer in agriculture and as a raw material in the pharmaceutical industry, in the production of explosives, glass, and chemicals, Hina reports.