Xinhua news agency reports that the note confirmed that 12 of the miners were still alive after the Jan. 10 explosion in the city of Qixia in Shandong province. Four were injured, while the fate of ten others is unknown.
The workers wrote that they were still hopeful, according to Xinhua, but that they needed medical supplies.
Xinhua quoted the note as saying, “We are extremely exhausted and urgently need stomach medicines, pain relievers, tape, external anti-inflammatories and three people have high blood pressure.”
Rescue efforts have been underway since the explosion occurred about 250 meters from the mine’s entrance, trapping 22 workers about 2,000 feet below ground, the agency said.
Rescuers will have heard for the first time sounds of beats coming from prisoners on Sunday, followed by pulling iron cords.