Rescue efforts continue after 7 miners rescued in central China coal mine accident

English.news.cn 2011-11-04 23:42:49

YIMA, Henan, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers are continuing to search for the 50 miners who are still trapped after a rock slide that occurred Thursday evening in central China's Henan province, the local rescue headquarters said Friday.

Seven miners were lifted to the surface after the accident occurred around 7:45 p.m. at the Qianqiu Coal Mine in the city of Sanmenxia. A total of 75 miners were working in the mine at the time of the accident, 14 of whom managed to escape, the headquarters said.

A 2.9-magnitude earthquake hit the city at about 7:18 p.m. Thursday, triggering a rock slide that blocked off one of the mine's shafts, trapping the workers underground. The shaft is about 760 meters deep, while the rock slide occurred at a depth of about 480 meters, which has hampered rescue efforts, the headquarters said.

The coal mine belongs to the Yima Coal Group, a major state-owned coal enterprise in Henan.

SURVIVORS RECALL "SHOCKING MOMENT"

Li Zhen, who was working 450 meters underground when the accident occurred, was among the 14 who managed to escape.

"After hearing a loud 'bang', the lights in the shaft all went out and I was pushed several meters away by a powerful force," he said.

"I scrambled out with my two colleagues and realized later that their faces were covered with blood."

Li got light injuries and is receiving treatment at the Qianqiu Coal Mine Hospital.

Miner Zhang Xiaotao passed out during the rock slide and was carried out by his colleagues.

"I felt like I was being electrocuted at the time. It turned out to be coal debris hitting my body," said Zhang.

Liu Xiaohong, a doctor at the Qianqiu Coal Mine Hospital, said 13 miners have been sent there with non-life-threatening injuries.

RESCUE EFFORTS ONGOING

Rescuers are working feverishly to dig through the blocked shaft to reach the trapped miners. Ventilation is essential for the rescue, as the shaft is already filling with carbon monoxide, the headquarters said.

Rescue worker Mou Jianbo said he and his colleagues are digging coal out of the shaft and carrying it away by hand.

"Monitoring data has shown that the gas content in the shaft is normal, and the digging process is speeding up," said Mou.

Luo Lin, head of the State Administration of Work Safety, reached the site early Friday to direct the rescue effort.

"There are still strong signs of life down there, and we will spare no effort for the rescue," said Luo.

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HARD TOIL: Young Afghan boys take a rest from their work at a coal mine in Samangan province, north of Kabul. Afghanistan is believed to have mineral reserves worth as much as three trillion dollars. AFP PHOTO/Qais Usyan