VietNamNet Bridge – Some 45 rescue personnel and soldiers from the Military Command, Border Guard and Fire Protection teams in the central province of Thanh Hoa were dispatched yesterday morning (June 7) to rescue three trapped gold miners.

Rescuers at the scene try to rescue the trapped miners in Nuoc Cave in central Thanh Hoa Province. – Photo dantri.com.vn

Nearly 100 other people were also deployed to rescue the miners who got trapped yesterday in Nuoc Cave of Lung Cao Commune’s Kit Village, Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of the People’s Committee of Ba Thuoc District, told the Dan Tri 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, Kha Van Ngon, and Kha Van Huyen, from northern Hoa Binh Province, entered the cave to repair a gold digging machine.

After encountering the toxic gas, which suffocated Huyen, Ngon tried to crawl to the mouth of the cave to call for help.

Pham Van Dung, 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.

On the same day, another miner, Bui Van Man, also failed to leave the cave while trying to rescue the others.

Chairman Dung 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, Dung said.

The rescue forces also had difficulty reaching the site as Kit Village is some 40km from the centre of Ba Thuoc 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, Dung said.

VNS