Food for survival reaches trapped miners

Four batches of life-sustaining nutrient solutions had been delivered by Tuesday morning to miners who have been trapped underground for more than a week at the Hushan gold mine in Qixia city of Yantai, Shandong province.

Song Xicheng, deputy director of the medical rescue team, said the workers asked for pickles, ham and porridge after a telephone wire reached them.

The wire had been inserted down a drilled hole to a group of 11 men inside the mine's No. 6 chamber. Another survivor is believed to be in an adjoining chamber, while the fate of 10 others remains unknown.

The miners were trapped after a blast on Jan 10.

Besides the nutrient solutions, rescuers also delivered porridge, thermometers and blankets to the workers. More food will be sent down soon, Song said, adding that the medical team had created a detailed medical record for each worker. Nutrients will be adjusted as needed.

Psychologists will be assigned to the workers to give them confidence, Song said.

In written notes, two miners who had lost consciousness said that they had recovered and were able to walk around.

Another worker who had scalp lacerations was bandaged up by other workers using medical supplies delivered down the drill hole.

The National Mine Safety Administration recently issued a notice urging a thorough safety inspection of non-coal mines to eliminate loopholes and prevent such major accidents from happening again.