12 workers trapped week ago in China mine blast are alive

Chinese state media say 12 out of 22 workers trapped for a week by an explosion in a gold mine are alive, as hundreds of rescuers seek to bring m to safety. Xinhua News ncy said Monday a te passed through a rescue shaft Sunday night reported fate of or 10 remains unkwn.

handwritten te said four of workers were injured and that condition of ors was deteriorating because of a lack of fresh air and an influx of water. Manrs of operation were detained after y failed to report accident for more than a day. mine in Qixia, a jurisdiction under city of Yantai in Shandong province, had been under construction at time of blast, which occurred Jan. 10.

More than 300 workers are seeking to clear obstructions while drilling a new shaft to reach chambers where workers were trapped and expel dangerous fumes. “Keep on with rescue efforts. We have hope, thank you," read te, written in pencil on tebook paper and posted on Xinhua's official website.

China's mining industry has a reputation for skirting safety requirements amid massive demand for coal and precious minerals, although increased supervision has reduced frequency of accidents that used to claim an aver of 5,000 miners per year. Two accidents in southwestern megacity of Chongqing last year killed 39 miners, prompting central government to order ar safety overhaul.

(Im Credits: AP)