Rescuers struggle to reach trapped miners in north China
SHIJIAZHUANG. March 26. KAZINFORM Rescuers have begun shoring up the collapsed main shaft of a north China coalmine in a bid to reach nine trapped miners, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The 40-strong rescue team was forced to work in six shifts because of the confined space, said an official with the government of Chengde county, in Chengde City, Hebei Province.
Two miners died and nine were trapped underground following a gas explosion Thursday in the Dadi Coal Mine.
Eighteen people were working in the shaft when the accident occurred at about 1 p.m., but only seven escaped.
Local authorities are discussing compensation for the families of the victims.
The Hebei provincial work safety administration has begun an investigation into the cause of the accident, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.