Rescuers enter Chinese mine where 153 are trapped

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The first group of rescuers and divers today entered a flooded Chinese mine where 153 workers have been trapped for almost a week, while no further signs of life came from underground since tapping was heard yesterday.

Seven rescuers and four divers entered the mine, the state-run China Central Television reported. The first team is expected to explore conditions underground before more rescuers are sent.

Rescuers had cheered Friday after hearing the tapping noises and possibly shouting. Television footage showed them tapping on pipes with a wrench, then cheering and jumping after hearing a response. They lowered pens and paper, along with glucose and milk, down metal pipes to the spot where the tapping was heard.

But nothing new had been heard today, said Wen Changjin, an official with the news centre set up at the site. The governor of the northern province of Shanxi had ordered rescuers to enter the mine.

It was not clear what risks rescuers would be taking by entering the Wangjialing mine, where 3,000 rescuers were working non-stop to pump out water. Wen said the water level underground had dropped by 5.4 meters today.

Reporters for state television read out letters that had been sent underground to the trapped miners, urging them to be patient.

Government officials said the mine flooded last Sunday afternoon when workers digging tunnels broke into an old shaft filled with water. But experts said it could still take days to reach the miners - and their survival depended on whether they had decent air to breathe and clean water to drink.