Despite
great hardship and a scenario that lacked much optimism, rescue workers saved
115 Chinese miners stranded in a flooded coal pit April 4. The miners had been
trapped since March 28. More than 3,000 workers rushed to aid the trapped
miners, working around the clock to drain the mine of water, pump in oxygen and
send in desperately needed supplies.
Liu
Qiang, leader of the rescue effort’s medical team, described the rescued miners
as very weak, dehydrated, malnourished and with unstable vital signs. However,
none were in critical condition.
“This
is probably one of the most amazing rescues in the history of mining anywhere,”
said David Feickert, a coal mine safety adviser to the Chinese government.
The massive outpouring of relief efforts, workers’ collaboration and
government aid were reminiscent of the response to earthquakes that struck
China in 2008. Such relief efforts in the face of major disasters have put the
United States to shame, as demonstrated by the U.S. government response to
Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
