Search continues for trapped Chinese miners

Rescue workers are still searching for 181 Chinese miners trapped underground for more than two weeks, although a state media report today did not say whether there were any chances of survival after such a long period.

Xinhua News Agency said pumping efforts had been stepped up in an effort to reach a working platform where most of the 172 miners from one of the two flooded mines were believed to be trapped.

The miners, plus nine others in a nearby pit, were caught on August 17 when a dyke burst on a river in Shandong province in eastern China, flooding the mine shafts.

But Xinhua said although the pumps had reduced the water level by about 165ft from the highest level, there were still about nearly 200ft to go to reach the nearest location where some of the 172 miners might be trapped.