OTTAWA, July 23 (Reuters) - Three workers are trapped

underground at a western Canadian mine operated by Newmont

Corporation ( NEM ), the company and a senior elected official

said on Wednesday, adding a rescue operation was underway.

Newmont ( NEM ) has temporarily suspended operations at the Red

Chris gold and copper mine in British Columbia, the company said

in a statement.

David Eby, the premier of British Columbia, said on local

television the three had been stranded after an accident

overnight.

"They are, to the best of our knowledge, uninjured and in a

refuge area," he told a televised press conference.

"Our rescue teams are exceptional, and they will be working

overtime to bring these workers home safely to their families,"

he said, but did not give details.

Newmont ( NEM ) has a 70% stake in the mine, with the remaining 30%

held by Imperial Metals Corp. ( IPMLF )

Imperial Metals ( IPMLF ) confirmed the incident in a statement late

on Wednesday.

Newmont ( NEM ) reported two "fall of ground" incidents in the

accessway to the underground work area of a non-producing part

of the mine, a term used to describe when the wall or ground of

an underground mine begins to collapse.

Imperial confirmed that the first fall prompted three

contractor employees to relocate to a designated refuge station,

adding that a second fall subsequently blocked the access route

and restricted communication.

"The refuge stations are equipped with adequate food, water,

and ventilation to support an extended stay," a Newmont ( NEM )

spokesperson said in the statement.

Both companies said that a "stand down of operations" at Red

Chris has been implemented and it is assembling specialist teams

from nearby mine sites to respond to the situation.

Newmont ( NEM ) said it is working to restore communication and

safely bring the team members to the surface.