Nine Chinese rescued after week trapped in mine
Nine miners have been rescued from a flooded coal mine in northern China where 153 people have been trapped for a week, Chinese state TV has said.
TV pictures showed the miners being taken in ambulances to hospitals amid jubilation from rescuers.
Some 3,000 people have been working round the clock to try to pump out the water to reach those trapped.
The Wangjialing mine in Shanxi province flooded after miners broke a wall into an abandoned shaft.
The last sign of life had been the sound of tapping on Friday.
Now officials say there are hopes that more workers can be rescued alive.
Eyes covered
Shortly after midnight on Monday (1400GMT on Sunday), the first survivor was brought to the surface.
A crowd of people outside the entrance of the mine clapped as the miners were carried out one by one.
The workers were gently placed into waiting ambulances and their eyes covered to prevent damage from the light after spending about a week in darkness. |