BONGHWA (South Korea): Rescue workers on Thursday began to search for two miners trapped underground for nine days by drilling a hole and inserting an endoscope.
They have been isolated in a vertical shaft about 190 metres underground at a zinc mine in the county of Bonghwa, 244 kilometres southeast of Seoul, since it collapsed on Oct 26, Yonhap news agency reported.
Rescue workers managed to drill a hole Thursday morning to reach their estimated burial point 170 metres underground, the local fire department said.
They began a search operation using an endoscope inserted into the hole with a diameter of 76mm. They also used a sound detection device.
The miners, both surnamed Park, are 62 and 56 years old, respectively, the report added.
“We are here to rescue you. If you hear my voice or see a light, please come slowly to the light and shout,” a rescue worker said through the hole.
After failing to detect any reaction, they moved the drilling machine to a location 168 metres underground and continued the search. – BERNAMA
