{"id":105402,"date":"2021-01-25T08:04:09","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T08:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=105402"},"modified":"2021-01-25T08:04:09","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T08:04:09","slug":"china-gold-miners-rescued-early-after-cavities-in-shaft-discovered-official","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/markets\/china-gold-miners-rescued-early-after-cavities-in-shaft-discovered-official\/","title":{"rendered":"China gold miners rescued early after cavities in shaft discovered: official"},"content":{"rendered":"
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Eleven Chinese gold miners trapped underground after an explosion were rescued much earlier than expected thanks to steel pipes supporting blockages in the mine shaft, according to state-media, as the search continued for 10 others.<\/p> An air ventilation shaft, which was the most feasible way to bring up the workers, had been cleared to a depth of 368 metres (1,207 feet), Xiao Wenru, chief engineer for the mine rescue, told Xinhua News Agency on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is at this location we discovered that there were some steel pipes supporting the blockage … there is almost no blockage under the steel pipes,\u201d said Xiao.<\/p>\n Xiao told Xinhua on Sunday there had been a breakthrough in rescue efforts after clearing some blockages and finding the \u201ccavities underneath\u201d.<\/p>\n (Graphic – The light at the end of the tunnel: )<\/p>\n The 11 miners were rescued on Sunday, with most of them in good condition, after 14 days trapped underground, although 10 workers remain unaccounted for.<\/p>\n Officials had earlier said the trapped workers may have to wait another 15 days before they could be rescued due to a blockage along their intended escape route. The workers had been able to receive medical and food supplies while they were trapped.<\/p>\n China\u2019s mines are among the world\u2019s deadliest. The country recorded 573 mine-related deaths in 2020, according to the National Mine Safety Administration.<\/p>\n The Jan. 10 explosion in the Hushan mine in Qixia, a major gold-producing region under the administration of Yantai in coastal Shandong province, trapped 22 workers about 600 metres (2,000 feet) underground.<\/p>\n One miner is known to have died. More than 600 rescuers have been on the site working to reach the men.<\/p>\n