180 workers trapped in flooded mines
A total of 180 miners have been trapped in two flooded mine shafts since Friday afternoon in east China's Shandong Province. Rescuers are trying to frantically pump water out of the mines, but hope for the men's rescue is diminishing with each passing minute.
The miners were trapped when a levee on the Wenhe River broke, sending water rushing into the mine shafts. The water level on the river was high due to torrential rains.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao published a statement on the government's website calling on rescuers to do everything humanly possible to rescue the trapped miners, Reuters writes.
By Sunday night, rescuers had been able to repair the breach and lower the water level in the mine, which had peaked at 90 meters.
According to Chinese media reports, rescuers have not given up hope, although they have no confirmation of whether the miners are still alive.
Zhang says that everything is being done to save the miners. Currently two pumps are draining water from the mines at a rate of 400 cubic meters per hour and more powerful water pumps are being brought in from nearby cities. Once all the available pumps are in operation, the total draining capacity will reach 5,000 cubic meters per hour. The present efforts are ensuring that the water level will no longer rise.
A total of 756 miners were working underground when water surged into the mine, trapping 180 workers inside. According to Shanghai Daily, most of the trapped workers are from rural areas in Tai'an City and surrounding areas.
All coal mines operating near the banks of the Wenhe River have been ordered to stop production and evacuate all miners. Residents in the low-lying areas downstream have also been told to prepare to evacuate should the river overflow.
A million euros has been allocated for the search and rescue effort by the Shandong provincial government.
China's coal industry has had a black year, with more than 2,000 miners having been killed in accidents over the first seven months.