Nineteen Chinese miners who became trapped underground when a coal mine collapsed last month were found dead recently, state media reported, after a huge rescue effort.
Twenty-one people were working in the Chaidaer mine in remote Qinghai province in northwest China when the roof suddenly caved in on August 14, local officials said last month.
One survivor and one dead miner were lifted to the surface days after the collapse, but rescuers failed to reach the rest. The remaining bodies were recovered.
"Rescue work has basically finished. The 19 trapped individuals were all discovered in the search, none of whom had vital signs," state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing the rescue team.
More than 1,000 people participated in the recovery effort that lasted almost 30 days, working in grueling conditions at an altitude of over 3,800 meters.
