Xinhua news agency reports that the report confirmed that 12 of the miners were still alive after the January 10 blast in Qixia city, Shandong province. Four are said to have been injured, while the fate of ten others is unknown.
The workers wrote that they remained hopeful, according to Xinhua, but that they needed medical supplies.
Xinhua quoted the note as saying, “We are very exhausted and urgently need stomach medications, painkillers, medical tape, external anti-inflammatory drugs, and three people have high blood pressure.”
Rescue efforts have been underway since the explosion occurred about 800 feet from the mine entrance, trapping 22 workers about 600 feet underground, the agency reported.
Rescue workers reportedly heard knocking noises for the first time from those trapped on Sunday, followed by iron ropes pulling.