Rescuers save 13 miners in China

Rescuers transfer a survivor of a coal mine flooding accident at the Shanmushu coal mine owned by the Sichuan Coal Industry Group in Gongxian county of Yibin city, Southwest China's Sichuan province, Dec 18, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

YIBIN, China (XINHUA) — After more than 80 hours of rescue operation, 13 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Sichuan province were rescued on Wednesday.

The Sichuan Coal Industry Group’s Shanmushu mine in the province’s Gongxian county under the administration of the city of Yibin flooded at 3:26 p.m. on Saturday.

At the time of the accident, 347 people were working in the shaft. As of Sunday morning, 329 workers were brought to the surface.

Five people were confirmed dead. As of 2:57 am on Wednesday, the rescued 13 people were sent to five hospitals in Gongxian and the city of Yibin.

All the rescued miners were fragile as they had not eaten for days. But they were in stable condition, according to a press release from the Sichuan Coal Industry Group on Wednesday morning.