'Underground' woman returns home

A woman who lived in an underground utility compartment in Beijing may be offered a job in a public nursing home, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Tuesday.

Quan Youzhi, 66, from Minquan county, Henan province, was found in a deserted underground utility compartment in Beijing's Chaoyang district last week.

An official of Minquan county told the newspaper that they sent people to Beijing to collect her on Sunday after they saw the media report.

The woman has been sent to hospital for a general check-up, the official said.

The official also said Quan may take up a position in a public nursing home as a cook.

The woman collected plastic bottles and made about 20 yuan ($3.30) a day working from 4 am to 9 pm. One hundred bottles can be sold for 8 yuan.

She said she had lived in the compartment for 20 years.

The community committee blocked off the compartment with cement on Friday for safety reasons.