Rescuers in China on Sunday raised one of the 22 workers arrested for two weeks after an explosion at a gold mine in the north, state media reported.
Reports said the worker was in poor condition, but no further details were given. State broadcaster CCTV showed ambulances parked alongside engineering vehicles at the mine in Qixia, a jurisdiction under Yantai in Shandong province.
Rescuers are in contact with 10 of the workers who were at the mine when an explosion occurred on January 10, while it was still under construction.
Another worker would have died while the fate of 11 others is unknown. The well is blocked 350 meters (1,000 feet) below the surface by 70 tons of rubble. Rescuers drilled additional wells for communication, ventilation and evacuation of survivors.
Surviving workers received a nutritious solution, but rescue workers can now provide food and drink on a regular basis, along with clothing and other supplies, the state news agency Xinhua said.
Authorities detained mine managers for delaying notification of the accident for more than 24 hours. The cause of the explosion was not announced.
Increased supervision has improved safety in China’s mining industry, which used to average 5,000 deaths a year. However, demand for coal and precious metals continues to encourage corner cutting, and two accidents in Chongqing last year killed 39 miners.