. Earth Science News .
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Rescuers say at least two more weeks to free Chinese miners
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Jan 22, 2021

Rescuers believe it could take at least another two weeks to free miners trapped underground in eastern China, dashing hopes of an imminent retrieval for a group that has already spent 12 days entombed by an explosion.

The increasingly desperate attempt to save 21 workers has been further complicated by a massive blockage that has delayed drilling efforts, according to state media.

"The obstacles are just too huge, which means we need a least another 15 days or even more to reach the miners," said Gong Haitao, deputy head of the local publicity department, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The debris standing in the way weighs about 70 tons, Gong said.

The blast at the Hushan mine in Shandong province sealed 22 workers hundreds of metres underground on January 10.

On Sunday, contact was made with 11 miners stuck at one location around 580 metres (1,900 feet) below the surface, and much-needed food and medical supplies were lowered down to them.

One of the group of eleven was seriously injured in the initial explosion and has been confirmed dead after suffering head injuries and falling into a coma.

A twelfth miner is believed to be trapped on his own, 100 metres further down in rising waters.

For the other 10 miners, hopes are dwindling as they have not been heard from since the explosion.

To extract the group, rescuers are trying to widen one of the shafts to eventually allow the workers to be brought up to the surface.

But progress has been slow because they are drilling through granite, according to officials.

State TV footage Friday showed large piles of unearthed debris at the rescue site, and a drill boring down through a deep shaft.

Official news agency Xinhua reported that the miners have been trying to help search for the missing group using laser pointers and loudspeakers, but have received no reply.

Rescuers have lowered life detectors and nutrient solutions into other sections of the mine as well, without response.

Mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are often weakly enforced.

In December, 23 workers died after becoming stuck underground in the southwestern city of Chongqing.


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


DISASTER MANAGEMENT
China defends Covid-19 response after criticism by experts
Beijing (AFP) Jan 19, 2021
China defended its handling of the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday but said it would "strive to do better" after independent experts criticised the speed of its response to a virus that has now killed more than two million people worldwide. Beijing has faced international criticism for an alleged lack of transparency after the virus emerged in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019 and for stifling whistleblowers who tried to raise the alarm. The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Resp ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Indonesian medics overwhelmed by quake casualties

Rescuers scramble to free Chinese miners trapped underground

China rescuers drill new 'lifelines' to trapped gold miners

China defends Covid-19 response after criticism by experts

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Saffire Ignites New Discoveries in Space

Physicists propose a new theory to explain one dimensional quantum liquids formation

Seeing in a flash

EOS supports Texas Rocket Engineering Laboratory (TREL) to fuel additive manufacturing education

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Climate change will alter the position of the Earth's tropical rain belt

Ex-state governor charged in Flint water crisis

High cost to wildlife from shark nets protecting S.Africa beaches

'Corals are being cooked': A third of Taiwan's reefs are dying

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The new face of the Antarctic

U.S. Navy strategic plan calls for more activity in Arctic region

Researchers discover a new tool for reconstructing ancient sea ice to study climate change

Subsea permafrost is still waking up after 12,000 years

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
In Iraq, a new epidemic -- bird flu -- decimates chicken coops

Brazilian ant farm yields new antifungal compound

Canadian researchers create new form of cultivated meat

Nations failing to fund climate adaptation: UN

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Research finds tiny bubbles tell tales of big volcanic eruptions

Syria downpour kills child, turns displacement camps into 'lakes'

Hotel collapses, at least three dead in Indonesia quake: official

Tropical Cyclone Kimi forms off northeastern Australia

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Zambia copper mine settles villagers' pollution claims

France's reckoning with colonial past reviewed in Algeria report

U.S. airstrikes kill 3 al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia

Russia pulling 'military instructors' out of Central African Republic

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Objects suggest Europeans used standardized money 4,000 years ago

Deep sleep takes out the trash

Earliest human culture lasted 20,000 years later than previously thought

Identical twins not so identical after all: study









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.