Three workers who were trapped at a gold and copper mine in Western Canada have been rescued after more than 60 hours underground.

Mining major Newmont is continuing rescue efforts to reach three workers trapped underground at the Red Chris mine in British Columbia, following two fall-of-ground incidents that have blocked access with as much as 30 m of rock and debris.

The company said that the three trapped workers are business-partner employees, two from British Columbia and one from Ontario. They were working more than 500 meters (more than a quarter-mile) past the affected zone when the first rocks fell, and were asked to relocate to the refuge before the second rockfall.

Newmont (NYSE, ASX: NEM; TSX: NGT) is working to restore communications with three workers trapped underground at its Red Chris mine in northwest British Columbia after contact with them