Rescuers at the scene try to rescue the trapped miners in Nước Cave in central Thanh Hóa Province. – Photo dantri.com.vn |
THANH HÓA — Some 45 rescue personnel and soldiers from the Military Command, Border Guard and Fire Protection teams in the central province of Thanh Hóa were dispatched this morning to rescue three trapped gold miners.
Nearly 100 other people were also deployed to rescue the miners who got trapped yesterday in Nước Cave of Lũng Cao Commune’s Kịt Village, Nguyễn Văn Dũng, chairman of the People’s Committee of Bá Thước District, told the Dân Trí online newspaper.
Pockets of toxic gas are keeping the miners trapped in the cave, impeding rescue efforts, local authorities said.
Earlier on Sunday, the two miners, Khà Văn Ngôn, and Khà Văn Huyền, from northern Hòa Bình Province, entered the cave to repair a gold digging machine.
After encountering the toxic gas, which suffocated Huyền, Ngôn tried to crawl to the mouth of the cave to call for help.
Phạm Văn Dũng, 54, a miner at the scene attempted to rescue him upon hearing his cries for help, but he too became trapped by the gas in the cave.
Yesterday, another miner, Bùi Văn Mẫn, also failed to leave the cave while trying to rescue the others.
Chairman Dũng said the committee had deployed rescue teams to join the local team to save the trapped miners.
However, the rescue effort was unsuccessful because they were not equipped with gas masks, and the cave is very deep, reaching some 300-400m, Dũng said.
The rescue forces also had difficulty reaching the site as Kịt Village is some 40km from the centre of Bá Thước District.
They had to walk to the area. The village itself has no access to the national grid or mobile phone system, creating even more difficulties for the rescuers, Dũng said. — VNS