Chinese rescuers plan to drill shaft to free trapped miners

One death reported among 22 gold miners trapped underground for 11 days

Members of a rescue team work at the site of a gold mine explosion where 22 miners are trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province on January 18, 2021. AFP

Rescuers in China were drilling new shafts on Thursday to reach miners trapped underground for 11 days after an explosion, including one they hope to use to bring the survivors back to safety.

There were 22 workers trapped underground in the January 10 blast in the Hushan gold mine on the outskirts of Yantai, a major gold producing region in Shandong province on the north-east coast.

Rescuers have been in contact with 11 miners stuck in the middle section of the mine, about 350 metres underground, and managed to send food and medical supplies down to them.

One borehole had to be sealed up with cement after a water leak threatened the miners' safety.

One miner is known to have died of injuries sustained in the initial blast, state media reported on Wednesday.

The local government said on its official social media feed on Thursday that rescuers had started drilling a 10th channel with a 71-centimetre diameter that they hope will allow the 11 to be extracted.

On a foggy Thursday morning, the road leading to the mine was sealed off by police to ensure rescue efforts were not hampered. Health workers in protective gear took temperatures as part of Covid-19 precautions.

About 600 people are involved in the rescue, with as many as 25 ambulances waiting at the scene, as well as neurosurgeons, trauma specialists and psychologists.

A Reuters team saw fire engines and cars coming and going through a checkpoint on an approach road.

Rescue workers walk on a road leading to the Hushan gold mine, where workers are trapped underground after the January 10 explosion, in Qixia, Shandong province, China. Reuters

Security members keep watch at an entrance to the Hushan gold mine where workers are trapped underground after the January 10 explosion, in Qixia, Shandong province, China. Reuters

Rescuers work on saving workers trapped underground after the January 10 explosion at the Hushan gold mine in Qixia, Shandong province, China. cnsphoto via Reuters

Rescuers work on saving workers trapped underground after the January 10 explosion at the Hushan gold mine in Qixia, Shandong province, China. cnsphoto via Reuters

Security members in protective suits stand guard at an entrance to the Hushan gold mine where workers were trapped underground after the Jan. 10 explosion, in Qixia, Shandong province, China. Reuters

Rescue workers stand next to emergency vehicles outside the Hushan gold mine where workers were trapped underground after the Jan. 10 explosion, in Qixia, Shandong province, China. Reuters

Members of a rescue team working at the site of a gold mine explosion where 22 miners are trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province. AFP

Members of a rescue team working at the site of a gold mine explosion where 22 miners are trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province. AFP

Members of a rescue team working at the site of a gold mine explosion where 22 miners are trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province. AFP

Rescuers are seen at the site where workers were trapped underground after an explosion at the gold mine under construction, in Qixia, Shandong province, China. Reuters

Rescuers work in the aftermath of an explosion at a gold mine site in Qixia city, Shandong province, China. Around 22 workers have been trapped underground after an explosion ripped through the gold mine on 10 January 2021. EPA

Rescuers working at the site of a gold mine explosion where 22 miners are trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province. AFP

Rescuers working at the site of gold mine explosion where 22 miners were trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province. Miners trapped underground in eastern China for more than a week after a blast at a gold mine have managed to send up a note to rescuers, the local government said on January 18. AFP

Rescuers working at the site of gold mine explosion where 22 miners were trapped underground in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province. AFP