Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, "Grateful for the miraculous survival of two Bonghwa miners from Gangwon residents... Wishing for a speedy recovery"

Directive to Strengthen Safety Management of 80 Mines in Gangwon-do

Jin-tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Province [Gangwon Province]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] Two miners trapped in a zinc mining site in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, have been confirmed as residents of Gangwon Province. Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, stated on the 6th, "In a situation where the entire nation is engulfed in sorrow, I deeply thank you for overcoming the worst conditions 190 meters underground with the resilience of Gangwon residents and returning to your families as a miracle," adding, "I wish both of you a speedy recovery together with all the residents."

Governor Kim also expressed, "I sincerely thank the fire authorities, mine rescue teams, drilling battalion soldiers, and all related personnel who risked multiple drilling operations and the danger of tunnel collapse to devote their full efforts to the rescue operation on site."

Upon being informed that the two trapped miners were both residents of Gangwon Province, Governor Kim dispatched Jeon Gil-tak, Director of the Economic Bureau, and senior officials to the site, sharing updates on the rescue operation progress with Gyeongbuk Province and Bonghwa-gun, and managed the situation accordingly.

Meanwhile, regarding the repeated entrapment accidents such as the Taebaek coal mine accident in September and the recent Bonghwa mining accident, Governor Kim instructed active cooperation with mining management and supervision agencies to strengthen safety management at the 80 mines operating within the province and to thoroughly establish safety management and response measures necessary for emergency field response.

The two surviving miners entered the underground tunnel around 6 p.m. on the 26th of last month to work on rails with their colleagues but were suddenly trapped by a landslide. On the 10th day after the accident, at 11:03 p.m. on the 4th, they were dramatically rescued after 221 hours.

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