By CARA ANNA, Associated Press Writer – 53 mins ago
BEIJING – The first group of rescuers and divers entered a flooded Chinese mine where 153 workers have been trapped for almost a week, but they returned within hours Saturday and called the situation underground "very difficult." There were no further signs of life after tapping was heard the previous day.
The divers said black, murky water was complicating efforts to reach the site where rescuers hope miners are still alive, state-run China Central Television reported.
The next step in the rescue plan was under discussion and wasn't expected until Sunday, said Wen Changjin, an official with the news center set up at the mine in the northern province of Shanxi.
Television footage on Friday afternoon showed rescuers tapping on pipes with a wrench, then cheering and jumping after hearing a response — the first sign of life since the mine flooded last Sunday. They lowered pens and paper, along with glucose and milk, down metal pipes into the mine.
But nothing new had been heard as of Saturday afternoon, Wen said.
