59 still trapped in China mine disaster

59 still trapped in China mine disaster
REUTERS

BEIJING, OCT 2: Kept alive on rice porridge and milk poured down a long iron pipe, some of the 59 Chinese coal miners still trapped underground after a deadly explosion waited on Monday for rescue, a mine official said.

"Most of them are still alive," the official said. "We hope they can be pulled out within the next several days."

A gas explosion ripped through the Muchonggou coal mine in the south western province of Guizhou last Wednesday while 244 miners were working in the mine.

One hundred miners have already been confirmed dead, while 85 have been rescued, the official said.

The missing include many brothers, in some cases two or three from the same family.

The official said the trapped men were in constant communication with rescue workers on the surface by tapping on the pipe. Rescue workers were feeding them water and soup besides porridge and milk, he said.

China's coal mines have an abysmal safety record, with thousands of coal miners killed in accidents every year.

State media say 665 people died in coal mine accidents in the first quarter of this year.

Beijing has pledged to improve safety and close down small unregulated pits.

A second official at Muchonggou, which employs 4,000 people, said the mine had been believed to be relatively safe, but the company was in dire financial straits.

"Salaries for miners have not been paid on time," he said.

Miners who worked underground in dangerous conditions earned 1,000 yuan ($120) per month, while employees working above ground got only 200 to 300 yuan.