Chinese rescue workers found eight survivors five days after an underground mine collapse in eastern Shandong province, media reports said. Rescue workers, who detected survivors with infrared cameras early Wednesday, are now preparing to attempt to reach them. The trapped survivors are reportedly in good health, according to VOA News.
"The trapped workers I was in contact with are in good condition. They can still clearly express themselves. They said they are hungry and asked for food, as this is the sixth day they have been trapped underground. Right now the hole is just big enough to send down food and supplies, so we need to drill deeper to expand the hole big enough for lifting them out, which will take some time but we are confident," a rescue worker told China Radio International.
Twenty miners were working in the gypsum mine in Pingyi County of Shandong province when it collapsed on Friday, Dec. 25. Four workers escaped immediately after the collapse, according to Xinhua news agency. One death has been confirmed.
"Underground, there is limestone, shale, sandstone, karst caves and seeping water. The terrain there is changing constantly. This makes rescue operations more difficult," Linyi mayor Ma Kun said, according to CNN.
The provincial authorities on Tuesday fired four officials over the tragic incident.
