(Reuters) – Twelve employees who had been left trapped underground after an explosion at a gold mine in jap China per week in the past are nonetheless alive, in keeping with a notice retrieved from the positioning, the official Xinhua information company reported on Sunday, citing native authorities.
A complete of twenty-two employees had been trapped within the Hushan mine, in Shandong province, after the blast on Jan. 10. It was not till 30 hours later that the accident was reported, nevertheless, resulting in extreme criticism of these accountable and the sacking of two senior native officers.
Xinhua offered no additional particulars on what the retrieved “paper slip” stated, however added that rescuers additionally felt folks pulling on iron ropes that had been lowered into the mine, which was nonetheless beneath development.
The situation of the opposite 10 employees was unclear, Xinhua stated.
The information company reported earlier on Sunday that when rescuers knocked on a drilling pipe, they heard knocking sounds in response.
The employees’ communication system was broken within the blast, whereas particles blocking the mine shaft and the late reporting of the accident have additionally hampered the rescue effort.
The mine is owned by Shandong Wucailong Funding Co Ltd, which China’s fourth-biggest gold miner, Zhaojin Mining Business Co Ltd, describes as a “subsidiary of an affiliate.”
Zhaojin has not commented publicly on the accident.
Reporting by Tom Daly; Enhancing by Peter Cooney
