"Breaking Through Unexpected Spots, One Machine Broken..." The Scene as Seen by Families of Miners Missing in the Mine Collapse

Setting Coordinates Based on 20-Year-Old Blueprints... "Misstep Made"
"Rescue Operations Did Not Proceed Smoothly Despite Presidential Orders"

On the 9th day of the landslide accident at Gwangsan, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk, two drilling rigs deployed to confirm survival signals from the two trapped workers reached the "expected rescue point" on the morning of the 3rd. The families of the trapped workers are watching from behind. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] As the mining collapse accident in Gwangsan, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk enters its ninth day, the family of the trapped miners shared updates on the situation at the site.

On the 3rd, Mr. A, who identified himself as the nephew of a miner in his 50s, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and expressed frustration over the delayed rescue efforts, saying, "Even though there was a directive from the President, the work is not progressing smoothly."

On the 26th of last month, two miners in their 50s and 60s became trapped while working on rail tracks underground at a zinc mine located in Seocheon-ri, Socheon-myeon, Bonghwa-gun. The missing workers are estimated to be trapped about 190 meters underground, and since the horizontal tunnel space measures approximately 2.1 meters in both width and height, there is a significant possibility that the missing miners are still alive.

According to rescue authorities, around 5 a.m. on the 3rd, two drilling machines successfully conducted borehole drilling to check for signs of life from the workers. However, earlier rescue efforts faced difficulties; one of the two drilling machines deployed broke down and had to be repaired. Drilling was attempted first with a 76mm diameter drill and then with a 98mm diameter drill to confirm the miners' status, but the operation failed due to coordinate setting errors.

Mr. A said, "The Governor of Gyeongbuk came down, and the day before, following the President's instructions, two drilling machines were brought in. One of the drilling machines was broken at that time, and the other drilled in the wrong place."

He added, "We were so angry about this and asked on what basis and data they chose that location. We were told that the mining company's representative had directed them to that spot based on a 20-year-old blueprint, which was just unbelievable."

There were a total of seven miners working at the time of the accident. Five miners, excluding the two missing, managed to escape. Among them, two detected abnormal signals while working about 30 meters underground and escaped on their own around 8 p.m. on the 26th, and three were rescued by the company after about three hours.

Mr. A said, "My uncle was at the deepest point, 190 meters down, and fortunately, those who escaped were above the tunnel before the mudslide occurred, so they were able to get out."

Additionally, Mr. A pointed out the harsh working conditions. He said, "My uncle came here to work because he was not financially well-off. I saw the working environment through video for the first time yesterday, and it was so difficult and harsh that I was at a loss for words."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.