It will take at least another 15 days to pass through a large amount of wreckage and reach the miners who have been trapped since the explosion of 11 days ago at a gold mine in eastern China, officials said.
The mine shaft is blocked 350 meters below the surface by 70 tons of wreckage that stretches for another 100 meters, the Yantai city government said. “Based on expert evaluations, the extent of the blockade … is well beyond expectations.”
A miner died of head injuries in the blast, state media reported on Thursday. Of the remaining 21, rescuers made contact with 10, one is alive in a nearby chamber and the status of the other 10 is unknown. Two of the survivors are in poor health.
Rescuers handed over food, medicine and other supplies to 11 and are working to remove the debris and improve ventilation. They have been trying to clean cages and other debris that blocks the main well while drilling other wells for communication, ventilation and possibly to lift workers to the surface. The drilling reached depths of around 700 meters (about 2,000 feet), according to state media.
Mine managers were arrested for waiting more than 24 hours before reporting the accident, the cause of which was not disclosed. The mine in Qizia, Shandong province, was under construction when the explosion happened on January 10.
Increased supervision has improved safety in China’s mining industry, which used to average 5,000 deaths a year, but demand for coal and precious metals continues to encourage corner cutting, and two accidents in Chongqing last year killed 39 miners.