Race Against Time to Reach Trapped Coal Miners in China

In a desperate race against time rescue workers in China are trying to reach 11 trapped miners in the Pingyu coal mine in Central China.

As the world was watching the miraculous rescue of the 33 miners in Chile a gas blast rocked the mine in China killing 26 miners on the spot.

Efforts are now on the rescue the 11 trapped miners however officials say that the chances of them being alive are slim. Mr Du Bo the deputy chief of the rescue headquarters said that based on past experience the survival chances are frail. The relatives and loved ones have begun a vigil on the surface of the mine.

Chinese mines have a disastrous safety record and this latest explosion is just another example of how bad things are. The officials fear that the miners may have been suffocated or buried by coal dust.

Ironically the blast at the mine owned by the Pingyu Coal & Electric Co Ltd occurred when the workers began drilling a hole to release pressure from a gas build up to decrease the risk of explosions. There was no gas explosion.