SANTIAGO, Chile, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The owner of the San Jose mine in Chile, where 33 miners are trapped, has had its assets frozen by court order.
The court acted at the bidding of the Chilean government, which wants the San Esteban mining company to pay for the miners' rescue, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported.
The company was already in financial trouble when the access tunnel to its copper and gold mine collapsed Aug. 5. It reportedly owes creditors more than $10 million.
An appraiser has been asked to report to creditors in a month on whether San Esteban should be declared bankrupt.
The rescue operation is continuing, although one of the drills, the Schramm T-130, has developed a "technical malfunction," forcing it to stop temporarily at a depth of 470 feet.
Officials said part of the hammer had broken off, but they expected the drill to resume work shortly.
Rene Aguilar, an engineer in the rescue operation, said it was going well and should be completed in early November.
