Hopes fade for trapped miners
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
March 30, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
RESCUERS pumped water from a flooded mine in north China's Shanxi Province where time is running out for 153 trapped workers.
About 1,000 rescuers were rotating on shifts to try to drain enough water to reach the trapped miners.
It was unclear if anyone was still alive in the shafts, some of which extended 1 kilometer into the earth.
Investigations found that workers digging a new mine accidentally drilled through a water-filled cavity and caused the flooding in the Wangjialing coal mine in Xiangning County. This kind of water was acidic and usually contained hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas, an expert told China Central Television yesterday.
The acid water is posing great challenges for draining work.
Pumps are sucking water out of the mine at a speed of 500 cubic meters per hour, far lower than the expected 2,000.
Another problem was that the mine did not have enough equipment because it was still under construction, said Liu Dezheng, an official with the provincial safety authority.
Pumps and other draining equipment were being transferred to Shanxi from nearby provinces, Liu said.
It could take three days to pump out all the water even at maximum speed, Liu said.
Priority tasks at the moment were pumping water, maintaining ventilation and preventing secondary disasters, he said.
Xu Shuwei was among the last group of workers who escaped the flood by taking a lift to ground level.
"Those trapped are my work mates. I just want to try my best to save them," said Xu, 40, who helped carry equipment for the rescue effort.
Fan Leisheng, a rescued worker, said: "It was so terrible ... the water was just several centimeters behind me when I ran out."
Construction of the mine reportedly was five months ahead of schedule. It was going to produce as early as October and every worker was required to speed up their efforts.
About 1,000 rescuers were rotating on shifts to try to drain enough water to reach the trapped miners.
It was unclear if anyone was still alive in the shafts, some of which extended 1 kilometer into the earth.
Investigations found that workers digging a new mine accidentally drilled through a water-filled cavity and caused the flooding in the Wangjialing coal mine in Xiangning County. This kind of water was acidic and usually contained hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas, an expert told China Central Television yesterday.
The acid water is posing great challenges for draining work.
Pumps are sucking water out of the mine at a speed of 500 cubic meters per hour, far lower than the expected 2,000.
Another problem was that the mine did not have enough equipment because it was still under construction, said Liu Dezheng, an official with the provincial safety authority.
Pumps and other draining equipment were being transferred to Shanxi from nearby provinces, Liu said.
It could take three days to pump out all the water even at maximum speed, Liu said.
Priority tasks at the moment were pumping water, maintaining ventilation and preventing secondary disasters, he said.
Xu Shuwei was among the last group of workers who escaped the flood by taking a lift to ground level.
"Those trapped are my work mates. I just want to try my best to save them," said Xu, 40, who helped carry equipment for the rescue effort.
Fan Leisheng, a rescued worker, said: "It was so terrible ... the water was just several centimeters behind me when I ran out."
Construction of the mine reportedly was five months ahead of schedule. It was going to produce as early as October and every worker was required to speed up their efforts.
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