115 Miners Rescued from Flooded China Mine, 38 Still Trapped

As hopes faded for the miners trapped underground for more than week in the Wangjialing coal mine in China, rescue operations continued – and resulted in the miraculous recovery of 115 survivors.

Laura Walter

April 5, 2010

On March 28, water flooded the mine in China's Shanxi province, leaving a total of 153 workers trapped underground. As rescuers worked day and night to free the miners, hopes for a safe recovery began to diminish. But on April 5, rescuers were able to reach the trapped miners and bring most of them to safety in what many have called a miracle.

According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, the majority of the rescued miners were found in stable condition. The survivors are receiving medical treatment at various local hospitals.

Thirty-eight miners remain trapped underground as rescue crews continue pumping water from the flooded mine to locate them. The Associated Press reported that the remaining miners likely are on lower platforms, which means they could be closer to the floodwater and thus be in greater danger.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.