BEIJING, Jan 24, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Rescue workers on Sunday lifted out the
first of 22 miners trapped for two weeks hundreds of metres underground in an
east China mine, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The man, discovered Sunday in a separate section of the mine to the 10
workers who had already established contact with rescuers, was in “extremely
weak physical condition”, CCTV said.
Rescuers have been battling difficult conditions to help the workers since
an underground explosion at the Hushan mine in Shandong province sealed them
underground amid rising waters on January 10.
State broadcaster footage showed a small elevator carriage lifted to the
surface by a huge drill, accompanied by rescue workers. A masked man, who
appeared unable to stand, was carried out.
Contact was first established a week ago with a group of 11 miners trapped
in a section of the mine around 580 metres (1,900 feet) below the surface.
One of them was seriously injured in the initial explosion and has been
confirmed dead after suffering head injuries and falling into a coma.
Rescue teams have been lowering food, medicine and other supplies through
several “lifeline” shafts drilled into the rock. Life detectors and nutrient
solutions have been lowered to other parts of the mine to find the other
missing miners.
The rescued miner was found in a section closer to the surface than the
section where the first group are located, CCTV reported.
State media footage on Sunday showed several tall drills boring down.
A twelfth miner is believed to be trapped on his own, 100 metres further
down in rising waters.
For the other nine miners, hopes are dwindling as they have not been heard
from since the explosion.
Rescue workers said Friday it could take at least another two weeks to
free the miners, citing a massive blockage that has delayed drilling efforts,
according to state media.
Rescuers are trying to widen one of the shafts to eventually allow the
workers to be brought up to the surface.
Mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety
record and regulations are often weakly enforced.
In December, 23 workers died after becoming stuck underground in the
southwestern city of Chongqing.