95 Chinese Miners Rescued One Week After Collapse

The miners were digging tunnels when they broke into a water-filled abandoned shaft.

At least 95 miners were rescued after being trapped in a flooded coal mine in China. Photo courtesy: Press TV

(SHANXI, China) - The number of miners rescued from a collapse in northern China has reached nearly 100. That is just less than one third the number of workers who went missing in the Shanxi province on 28 March, a full week ago.

A spokesman for the rescue headquarters, Liu Dezheng, said Monday that the location of so many is a miracle... that finally happened.

China's state television station announced, "By this morning, a total of 95 workers have been found alive in the mine and so far 27 have been taken out of the mine shaft."

Of those rescued, many were unconscious, but were able to state their names and hometowns.

Reports from China's Xinhua news agency, indicate that the miners were immersed in water. They were cold and soaked from being trapped for many days.

The AP reports that miners were wrapped in blankets and rushed to waiting ambulances. Sirens could be heard blaring as they sped to area hospitals.

Rescuers in tears reportedly hugged each other at the scene, and it was seen by millions on national television.

The long awaited word of nearly 100 survivors, is a very unique as little good news is typically reported about the Chinese mining industry, which The Associated Press reports to be the deadliest in the world.

Hundreds of rescue workers kept the effort alive literally around the clock, using 14 different pumps to draw the water out of the flooded Shanxi province mine. The miners were digging tunnels when they broke into a water-filled abandoned shaft.