Four miners were rescued in eastern China after spending 36 days underground, reported the country’s state-run news agency.

The workers were lifted from a mine in Shandong Province Friday night. They were pulled up through emergency holes drilled in the ground to supply them with food and clothing.

The gypsum mine collapsed on December 25, trapping 29 miners.

The first miner is lifted from a collapsed mine in Pingyi, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 29, 2016. (Guo Xulei/Xinhua via AP) CHINA OUT
The first miner is lifted from a collapsed mine in Pingyi, east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 29, 2016. (Guo Xulei/Xinhua via AP) CHINA OUT

Fifteen miners have escaped or were rescued. One person was confirmed dead. Thirteen others are still missing and are believed dead.

I’m Mary Gotschall.

Mary Gotschall adapted this story from VOANews for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

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Words in the Story

underground – n. located or occurring below the surface of the earth

drill – v. to make a hole in something with a drill or a tool used for making holes in hard substances

gypsum – n. a white mineral that is used to make plaster of paris