Trapped Chinese miners rescued
SURFACED: RESCUERS DRILL SHAFT TO GROUP OF 10
Hopes dwindle for nine who have not responded in efforts to contact them.
Efforts to save 22 miners trapped hundreds of metres underground for two weeks in east China have sped up dramatically, as rescue workers lifted out seven people yesterday and hoped to reach more, state media reported.
The first miner, brought to the surface, at around 11am, was rushed to hospital in “extremely weak physical condition”, reported state broadcaster CCTV.
He was discovered in a separate section of the mine to a group of 10 the rescuers had previously contacted.
“The second batch were lifted out at 1.32pm – they were three of the 10 whom [rescuers] already contacted. One of them is injured,” reported CCTV.
A third group of three was brought out at around 2pm.
Rescuers hoped to save all 10 miners yesterday after an air ventilator shaft was cleared, the official state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the operation’s command centre.
Specialist teams had been battling difficult conditions since an explosion at the Hushan mine in Shandong province sealed them underground amid rising waters on 10 January. The explosion occurred in the air ventilator shaft, causing a blockage that damaged the cable car that allowed miners to ascend.
Footage showed a small elevator carriage was lifted to the surface by a huge drill, accompanied by rescue workers. A masked man, who appeared unable to stand, was carried out.
Later footage showed emergency workers lifting out the trapped miners who wore black masks “to protect their eyes”.
Contact was first established a week ago, with a group of 11 miners trapped in a section of the mine around 580 metres below the surface.
One was seriously injured in the initial explosion and died after suffering head injuries and falling into a coma.
Rescuers had been lowering food, medicine and other supplies to the group through several “lifeline” shafts drilled into the rock.
State media reported on Friday that the trapped workers’ physical health was gradually returning to a “normal state” after regular deliveries of food.
Life detectors and nutrient solutions have been lowered to other parts of the mine to find the other missing miners.
A 12th miner is believed to be 100m further down in rising waters, but rescue teams have been unable to contact him.
For the other nine miners, hopes are dwindling as they have not been heard from since the explosion.
Xinhua reported the miners had been trying to help search for those missing using laser pointers and loudspeakers, but had received no reply.
Rescue workers said it could take at least another two weeks to free the miners. –