JINAN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- There were signs of life signals, but rescuers needed confirmation in a rescue attempt for trapped workers after a gold mine blast in east China's Shandong Province, authorities said on Sunday.

As they drilled a channel at 1:56 p.m. on Sunday, rescuers knocked on the drilling pipe and got knocking sounds back in response.

The rescuers would deliver nutrient solutions and put life detectors and wired telephones into the mine as soon as possible, said Sun Shufu, an official with the emergency management department in Yantai City.

The blast took place at 2 p.m. on Jan. 10 at a gold mine in Qixia under Yantai City. It happened about 240 meters away from the entrance. Twenty-two workers were working more than 600 meters away from there.

Rescuers have been racing against time to save the trapped workers. By Saturday noon, 439 rescuers and 357 machines had been helping with the mission.

The rescue efforts are not easy, as obstacles are blocking the mine, said Wang Zongwen, an expert with the rescue team.

Drilling channels into the mine is also challenging since they had to dig more than 600 meters from the surface under complicated geological conditions. On Friday, rescuers added two new areas, bringing the number of drilling channels to six.

"No matter how difficult it is, we will do our best to save the trapped people," said Xiu Guolin, head of the rescue team. Enditem

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