A devastating mine collapse in the María La O sector of Sosúa, Puerto Plata, has claimed the lives of a father and son while leaving a third individual injured. The tragedy occurred at the El Cangrejo materials mine, where the victims were reportedly conducting maintenance and testing on heavy machinery rather than active extraction, according to an official investigation led by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
In the aftermath, a specialized technical commission from the Vice Ministry of Soils and Water, alongside the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Senpa officials, conducted an urgent site inspection. Their preliminary findings revealed a critical lack of compliance: the mining operation was being conducted without valid environmental permits for either extraction or transportation activities.
The Ministry’s subsequent statement highlighted a pattern of negligence, disclosing that prior technical assessments had explicitly warned of significant soil instability risks at the location. These reports had recommended specific remediation measures to mitigate the very dangers that ultimately led to the fatal incident. The institution extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families while issuing a stern reaffirmation of its zero-tolerance policy toward illegal mining operations. Officials urgently called for nationwide strict adherence to environmental and technical safety regulations governing all extractive industries to prevent future catastrophes.