Two trapped miners rescued 50 hours in E China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-14 11:13

LUJIANG, Anhui-- Two miners who had been trapped underground following an iron ore mine cave-in in east China's Anhui province on Monday were rescued on Wednesday night.

The two miners had been trapped for over 50 hours in the collapsed mine, when they were carried out by rescuers from a working area 80 meters underground around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday.

"Both of them were clear-headed and not seriously injured," said a doctor with the rescue staff.

The collapse occurred at around 5 pm Monday in the Longtanchong mine in Longqiao Town, Lujiang County, when 21 miners were underground. A total of 16 miners escaped safely. Rescuers found bodies of three miners from the debris.

The mine with an annual production capacity of 60,000 tons became privatized in 2002. The mine owner surnamed Liu has been under police detention for investigation of the accident.