Rescuers managed to rescue the first of 22 miners trapped underground for two weeks in eastern China today, state television CCTV reported.
The "physically weak" rescued man does not belong to the group of ten minors with whom surface contact has been established, according to the broadcaster. The CCTV footage showed a small forklift rising to the surface, lifted by a huge drilling rig. A man in a mask, who seemed unable to stand up, emerged accompanied by rescuers. Since the January 10 explosion at the Qixia gold mine in eastern Shandong province, rescuers have been working to rescue miners stranded several hundred meters underground and threatened by rising water. The explosion blocked the entrance to the well and cut communications. One of the miners died last week from his injuries.