20 trapped miners rescued from flooded coal mine in north China

December 17, 2021, 05:34 PM
by Xinhua/UNB

UNB News
Publish- December 17, 2021, 05:34 PM
Xinhua/UNB
Update- December 17, 2021, 05:41 PM

20 trapped miners rescued from flooded coal mine in north China

Rescuers work at the site of a flooded coal mine in Duxigou Village, Xiaoyi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Dec, 17, 2021. One of the 21 miners who are trapped in a flooded coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province was lifted out of the shaft safely at around 2:15 p.m. Friday, the local rescue headquarters said. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

All the 20 miners who were trapped in a flooded coal mine for more than 30 hours in north China's Shanxi Province have been evacuated from the shaft safely at around 5:56 p.m. Friday and sent to hospitals for treatment, the local rescue headquarters said.

The accident took place at around 11 p.m. Wednesday at the coal mine in Duxigou Village, Xiaoyi City. Illegal mining was blamed for the accident, according to a preliminary investigation.

Read: UN leader urges 'concrete' moves on year-end vaccine goal

Rescuers on Friday morning established contact with the miners. The first trapped miner was lifted out of the shaft at around 2:15 p.m. Friday.

More than 400 rescuers had been racing against time to reach the trapped miners. Several pumps had been installed, and the water level in the pit had dropped by 2.1 meters as of 6 a.m. Friday, rescuers said. Low temperatures and strong winds were making search and rescue more difficult.

The local public security department has put under control seven suspects involved and is searching for others who have fled.