International Desk: Twelve workers trapped within 600 meters of the entrance to a gold mine in China have expressed their desire to survive. Rescuers say they have received handwritten notes from the workers stating, "Don't stop trying to rescue us, we're still alive. News from The Guardian.

Twenty-two miners have gone missing after an explosion at a Hushan gold mine in China's eastern Shandong province on January 10. However the fate of other 10 workers was unclear.

According to Chinese state media, rescue workers were able to communicate with the group through a narrow pipe. After sending the rope inside the pipe, they feel it being pulled from the inside. They then send food, medicine, paper and pencils in the same way.

The workers wrote down their position on that paper. They have requested to send more medicines, especially painkillers and bandages. They also said that the water level is much higher where they are located.

According to Chinese media, rescue workers are now digging tunnels and trying their best to rescue the trapped workers. Mine accidents are nothing new in China. Lack of adequate security has led to repeated accidents in the country. In December last year, 23 workers were killed in a carbon monoxide leak at a coal mine.

In September of the same year, another mine fire killed 16 workers. In addition, in December 2019, another fire broke out in another coal mine in China, killing 16 workers.