Earthquake Traps 34 Bosnian Miners Underground

Rescue crews tried to reach trapped miners at the Raspotocje colliery in Zenica on Friday, as the miners themselves made efforts to make an escape route by clearing the rubble brought down in the accident the day before.

The mine's management said that the 34 trapped miners were safe, and 22 others had already managed to make their way above ground.

"The miners are safe, a large amount of oxygen was assured for them and they are all in good physical and mental condition," the director of the mine Esad Civic told the Klix news-portal.

"Members of the families talked to some of the miners on the phone and made sure they were OK," he added.

Rescuers were getting closer on Friday morning, said the Bosnian Federation entity's mining inspector Nuraga Duranovic.

"Since yesterday around 100 metres [of rubble in the tunnels] has been cleared out and a transport system is being set up, and we estimate that we need to clear some 25 metres more," said Duranovic.

"We have established communication with [the miners] and they have cleared 40 metres [of rubble]," he said.