Rescuers in east China's Shandong province have opened up a narrow track leading to the site where 17 mine workers are trapped. They have been trying to send food and water through the track and make contact with survivors. The rescue command center says these people are located at two locations deep in the gypsum mine, 3 in the north end, 14 in the south-west section. Four tunnels are being built, yet none has reached them yet, because of a complicated underground situation.
Deep underground. The rescue teams are blocked by a large mountain of collapsed earth and seeping water. In the south-west section of the mine, two tunnels are being dug. Yet, both are stuck.
Rescue personnel are calculating the depth they have drilled so far, in order to decide whether they should use explosives to breach the barrier to the people trapped.
A breakthrough is crucial for the golden rescue window period, but difficulties lie ahead.
"Underground, there is limestone, shale, sandstone, karst caves, and seeping water. The terrain there is changing constantly. This makes rescue operations more difficult," Ma Kun, mayor of Linyi city, said.
Under these circumstances, the command center chooses to be cautious.
"We have to ensure the safety of both trapped miners and the rescue teams," Xu Shaochuan, deputy director of State Administration of Work Safety, said.
The rescue teams are trying to drill down to the mine tunnel about 220 meters below ground, but their efforts have been progressing very slowly over the past 48 hours. And time is of the essence for the trapped.
