Chile miners' families demand 12 million dollars compensation

London, Oct 1 (ANI): A suit has been filed by the families of trapped miners in Chile against the owner, demanding 12 million dollars as compensation.

Families of 29 of the 33 workers trapped in a collapsed Chilean mine filed a suit against their employer on Thursday, an official source said.

The suit was filed in Copiapo, near the site of the mine, the mayor of nearby Caldera, Brunilda Gonzalez, said.

The Telegraph quoted her saying that the suit names 29 of the families and seeks "indemnity of some 12 million dollars" which Gonzalez said was in line with other cases involving victim compensation in Chile.

The family of one miner, Raul Bustos, filed suit against the management of San Esteban, and the state regulatory body the National Geological and Mines Service, for having reopened the San Jose mine or allowed it to reopen in 2008 despite a fatal accident in 2007.

The 33 miners have been trapped underground since August 5 and it will be weeks before they can be freed. (ANI)