Miners brought to the surface after being trapped underground for 36 days

Four miners have been rescued after being trapped for 36 days underground in China. They were lifted to safety one by one using a special capsule at a gypsum mine, which caved in on Christmas Day. Their rescue was captured in TV footage which showed one of the men appearing on the surface to the cheers of their rescuers and then being taken to hospital. The men, who were trapped more than 600ft below ground, were wearing masks to protect their eyes after being underground for so long.

I feel relieved and secure now. We will remember you (rescuers) forever

One of rescued miners

The mine collapse in the town of Pingyi was so violent that it registered at China’s earthquake monitoring centre. The chairman of the mine company Ma Congbo drowned himself by jumping into a mine several days later. Since then, 400 rescuers were tunnelling down to the surviving men, and water and liquids were passed down through a narrow borehole. One miner was said to have been killed and another 11 escaped or were rescued in the immediate aftermath and another 13 are listed as missing.

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