Two weeks after Chinese gold mine explosion: 11 rescued, 10 dead and 1 missing
Yesterday, two weeks after a still officially unexplained explosion in a gold mine at Qixia in China’s coastal Shandong Province, 11 trapped workers were rescued, and the bodies of nine were found. The confirmed death toll is now 10, while the last of the trapped workers remains missing.
The disaster occurred in the early afternoon on January 10. An explosion occurred in a shaft, shattering all the shaft entrances. About an hour and a half later, a second explosion took place in the shaft, sending a strong shock wave. The second explosion severely damaged the equipment around the shaft entrance and added more rubble to the already blocked shaft passage.
22 workers trapped by blast in Chinese gold mine
Rescue operations are continuing at Qixia in China’s Shandong Province after 22 miners were trapped underground on January 10 following an explosion in the Hushan gold mine. The blast cut all communications, which were partially restored with 12 miners this week. The fate of the other 10 workers remains unknown.
The mine is owned by Shandong Wucailong Investment, a subsidiary of Zhaojin Mining. Wucailong had obtained the mineral rights to the site in 2016, but full-scale mining operations were yet to start. Construction was taking place, including of the shaft where the blast occurred.
Oceania Gold Mine Htachi EX3600 (John Welsh/Flickr)
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A week after 22 Chinese gold miners went missing, a note has made it to the surface pleading that rescue efforts continue.
The mining company did not report the disaster for more than 30 hours after an explosion rocked the Hushan mine near Qixia in China s Shandong province on January 10.
But at least 12 were apparently alive, 600 metres from the mine s entrance, stuck under tonnes of rubble.
Rescuers work to clear rubble at the mine explosion in Shandong Province last week.
Credit:Xinhua via AP Don t stop trying to reach us, the note said. We hope the rescue continues. We remain hopeful.
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At least 12 of 22 gold miners survived the blast in eastern Shandong province, note sent to surface suggests
01:21
Reuters
Sun 17 Jan 2021 23.30 EST
Last modified on Mon 18 Jan 2021 23.36 EST
Twelve workers trapped underground after an explosion at a gold mine in eastern China a week ago are still alive, according to a note retrieved from the site, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing local authorities.
A total of 22 workers were trapped in the Hushan mine, in Shandong province, after the blast on 10 January. It was not until 30 hours later that the accident was reported, however, leading to severe criticism of those responsible and the sacking of two senior local officials.
18 Jan 2021 - 0:19
Rescue teams work on saving workers trapped underground after an explosion at the gold mine under construction in Qixia, Shandong province, China, January 12, 2021. Picture taken January 12, 2021. cnsphoto via REUTERS
Reuters
Twelve workers who were left trapped underground after an explosion at a gold mine in eastern China a week ago are still alive, according to a note retrieved from the site, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday, citing local authorities.
A total of 22 workers were trapped in the Hushan mine, in Shandong province, after the blast on Jan. 10. It was not until 30 hours later that the accident was reported, however, leading to severe criticism of those responsible and the sacking of two senior local officials.