The Lure of the Underground Market
People enter these abandoned mines for several reasons, whether they are struggling to find work or feeding an addiction. It is not just individuals acting on a whim either. There is a massive underground market for copper wire, which is thick and valuable for recycling. Some people treat it like a career, packing lunches and working shifts, unaware that they are entering a literal death trap. Because the equipment left behind in these mines contains tons of wire, it becomes a huge target for those looking to make money quickly.
“I just interviewed someone who used to do this and they made over $200,000 doing this during their career. There is a whole operation here. I mean, the guy even told me that they packed lunches, they had shifts, and they took this as an actual job even though it is highly illegal, dangerous, and you should never do it ever.”
Survival and the Invisible Killer
Abandoned mines are not just structurally unsound; they are often low on oxygen. When oxygen levels drop to 12 percent, people become delirious and lose the ability to move around. In 2018, three people survived five days in a dark, wet mine by drinking mine water and praying, but their rescue was considered a miracle. Rescuers often have to stop searching because introducing fresh air to help crews can actually cause the mine environment to deteriorate further, making the mission even more hazardous.
“Human beings start to fatigue and have labor breathing and their cognitive skills start to be impacted at 14% oxygen, and at 12% you lose your ability to move around. Between 9 and 10% you are unconscious.”
The Families Left Behind
For some families, the hunt for copper ends in a permanent tragedy. Clay Eperly went into a mine with friends in 2016 but never came out. When the oxygen levels became too dangerous for rescue crews, the mine had to be sealed with Clay still inside. His mother was left without closure, illustrating the devastating toll this illegal trade takes on the community. Other cases, like that of Wes Blackburn, leave families living in limbo for years, waiting for answers that might never come.
“They just took me up there to say my goodbyes. They have give up on him. I just want my baby out of there. I am going to have no closure until I see him. I just want to see him.”
If you want to dive deeper into these cases and see the footage of the communities impacted by these “death traps,” you need to check out the original video. It is a chilling look at a world most people never see.
