Rescuers hear knocking sound as they look for 22 trapped Chinese miners

A week after miners were trapped underground in east China after an explosion, Rescuers detected signs of life on Sunday from 22 gold miners, reported AFP quoting state media.

On January 10, a blast collapsed the exit ladder of the mine and the communications system, leaving authorities unable to contact the workers in the mine located near Qixia city in eastern Shandong province.

On Sunday afternoon, rescuers, who drilled down, heard “knocking sounds”.

The mine, owned by the Shandong Wucailong Investment Co Ltd, was under construction when the accident happened. Two officials have been sacked over the explosion.

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Mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are often weakly enforced.

In December, 23 miners died after being trapped in a mine in the southwestern city of Chongqing — just months after 16 others died from carbon monoxide poisoning after being caught underground at another coal mine in the city.