Rescuers save 32 from mine

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-11-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

RESCUERS pulled 32 of the 34 trapped miners out of a flooded coal mine alive in central China's Henan Province early yesterday morning, almost 23 hours after the accident occurred. They are in stable condition at a local hospital. Two of the 34 died.

The number of the rescued miners was wrongly reported as 33 previously, said Dong Yuxi, a spokesman with the publicity department of Pingdingshan city government. "Rescuers are still searching for the one missing," Ding said.

The rescued miners were immediately rushed to a local hospital.

The 32 trapped workers were successfully lifted out of the flooded shaft about 6:03am.

Wang Dexue, deputy head of the State Administration of Work Safety, said the Gaomendong Coal Mine in Jiaxian County was operating illegally when the accident happened. The mine owner, Lou Gaofeng, has been detained.

"Although the mine's production license is valid until November 2009, the mine was undergoing a technical innovation for expansion which has yet to be approved for it to resume production," said Wang.

The safety production agency found the mine owner did not report the accident for two hours. Wang said Lou failed to report that miners had found water seeping into the mine before the accident.

The flood happened about 7:20am on Monday when 42 people were working underground. Eight managed to escape.

"The mine allows a maximum of 28 minors. But 42 people were working underground when the accident happened," said Li Hanwei, vice chief of the rescue headquarters.