ALL 29 miners trapped in a flooded Chinese coal mine were lifted to safety today, ending a day-long rescue drama, state media reported.
The miners were trapped yesterday morning after the small, privately-owned Batian mine in south-western Sichuan province suddenly flooded.
Rescuers initially thought only 28 were trapped but, after making contact with the workers, revised the figure upwards,
State broadcaster China Central Television showed a line of ambulances and large crowds waiting near the entrance to the mine and medics easing survivors wrapped in quilts on to stretchers after being led out of the mine.
The miners were barefoot and naked, their work clothes apparently drenched by the flood, and they wore blindfolds so the sunlight would not hurt their eyes after more than 24 hours in the dark shafts.
The crowd erupted into celebratory applause and shouting as each miner was brought out.
China's mines are the deadliest in the world, with more than 2,600 people killed in coal mine accidents in 2009 alone.
The official Xinhua News Agency said Batian had stopped production and was being upgraded to increase its annual capacity from 50,000 tons to 60,000 tons. The workers had been underground for safety work, it said.
Although most of China's mining accidents occur in small, illegal mines, Xinhua quoted Lin Shucheng, chief of the provincial work safety bureau, as saying Batian's operation was legal and fully licensed.
China depends on coal for 70% of its energy production and its mines are the deadliest in the world, with more than 2,600 people killed in coal mine accidents in 2009 alone.
