11 miners rescued after being trapped in gold mine for over two weeks in China

Eleven out of twenty-two miners who got trapped in a gold mine for more than two weeks in Eastern China has been rescued, Chinese state media reports.

According to a CNN report, Chinese authorities have since been digging grounds to pull out the other victims trapped underground in the city of Qixia, Shandong Province, after experiencing an explosion that blocked their exit on January 10.

The state-run news wire, Xinhua also reported that one of the victims was rescued at about 11:13 a.m. Sunday morning, “feeling totally weak and was sent to the hospital.”

The CCTV again captures that the remaining 10 were heaved from an intense portion of the gold mine with one person injured, but unknown how severe it is.

Meanwhile, one person is believed to be dead according to state media. Authorities earlier said 10 people who got stuck in the mine’s chamber 600 meters (1,969 feet) underground had contact with the outside world after rescue workers drilled a line and connected to a part of the mine where a telephone was channeled for access per Xinhua’s report.

It is not certain if these are among the earlier 10 rescued. Attempts have been made to reach out to the remaining troop trapped underground since the explosion happened about 240 meters (800 feet) from the entrance of the gold mine but Chinese officials disclosed on Thursday that it will take them 15 days to drill through 70 tons of debris trapping many of the miners.

Xinhua further reported that food, medical supplies, blankets, and batches of nutrient solution have been provided to the rescued 10 miners and they are so far in good physical and psychological condition.

State media also reports that the rescue teams are hoping to rescue the remaining miners stuck underground through a 711-millimeter (28-inch) diameter passage. By midday Thursday, the rescue team had drilled 18 meters (59 feet) into the mineshaft but weighty debris could slow efforts.

Anxiety has been developing for the unseen miners. However, some workers of the gold mine have participated to help rescue their fellow workers by using laser pointers and loudspeakers but to no avail.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com