Hundreds in bid to reach trapped miners
Source: Xinhua |
November 12, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HUNDREDS of rescuers yesterday continued to search for 22 miners trapped underground after a gas leak on Thursday in a coal mine in Yunnan Province.
Ventilators are pumping excess methane gas out of the mine, while rescuers are taking turns braving high levels of gas, coal dust and debris to find survivors in the Sizhuang Coal Mine, near Qujing City.
A rescuer surnamed Li said: "The underground situation is very complicated. Only six rescuers are allowed to go down into the shaft per shift due to the high intensity of gas. Too many rescuers underground could easily trigger accidents.
"In addition to searching for the miners, we need to examine and repair equipment and clear damaged pipes and other debris that block the tunnel," the rescuer said.
Zhao Tiechui, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said: "We must rescue the trapped miners at all costs."
Coal dust forced out of the shaft by expanding gas has blanketed the area around the mine's entrance. The area has been cordoned off by police and 30 ambulances are parked outside the mine as anxious relatives await news.
"In less than 10 minutes, my elder brother would have escaped," said a relative surnamed Xu at the site.
He said his brother, 44-year-old Xu Zhengliang, was preparing to end his shift and leave the shaft when the accident happened.
He added: "There has been no news about his condition so far. But I am afraid that the chance of survival is slight."
Another trapped miner, 37-year-old Yin Jinsuo, supports three young children, a wife and a 75-year-old mother.
Supporting Yin's wife in her arms, his sister said: "We just want to go to the entrance and see him for the last time.
Local work safety officials said the private mine was operating without a license when the accident occurred. The mine's license was revoked a year ago.
Ventilators are pumping excess methane gas out of the mine, while rescuers are taking turns braving high levels of gas, coal dust and debris to find survivors in the Sizhuang Coal Mine, near Qujing City.
A rescuer surnamed Li said: "The underground situation is very complicated. Only six rescuers are allowed to go down into the shaft per shift due to the high intensity of gas. Too many rescuers underground could easily trigger accidents.
"In addition to searching for the miners, we need to examine and repair equipment and clear damaged pipes and other debris that block the tunnel," the rescuer said.
Zhao Tiechui, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said: "We must rescue the trapped miners at all costs."
Coal dust forced out of the shaft by expanding gas has blanketed the area around the mine's entrance. The area has been cordoned off by police and 30 ambulances are parked outside the mine as anxious relatives await news.
"In less than 10 minutes, my elder brother would have escaped," said a relative surnamed Xu at the site.
He said his brother, 44-year-old Xu Zhengliang, was preparing to end his shift and leave the shaft when the accident happened.
He added: "There has been no news about his condition so far. But I am afraid that the chance of survival is slight."
Another trapped miner, 37-year-old Yin Jinsuo, supports three young children, a wife and a 75-year-old mother.
Supporting Yin's wife in her arms, his sister said: "We just want to go to the entrance and see him for the last time.
Local work safety officials said the private mine was operating without a license when the accident occurred. The mine's license was revoked a year ago.
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