A new channel has been drilled to rescue the workers trapped by a gold mine blast in East China's Shandong province, authorities said early Monday.

A paper slip retrieved from underneath a mine said that 12 workers are still alive while the other 10 are in unclear situation, after they were trapped following a gold mine blast in East China's Shandong province, according to local authorities.

Rescuers said they felt people pulling the iron ropes used to deliver the nutrient solutions on Sunday night. The rescuers previously drilled a channel at 1:56 pm on Sunday, knocked on the drilling pipe and got knocking sounds back in response.

A rescue shaft has reached the point where nine miners are assumed to be trapped following an explosion a week ago at a mine in East China's Shandong province, according to rescue teams.

Yao Xiuxia, Party secretary of Qixia city in Shandong province and city mayor Zhu Tao were removed from their posts on Friday due to their major roles in the late reporting of an explosion at a gold mine at the city, according to Dazhong Daily, the province's official newspaper.

An additional team of 43 people and more machinery were added to the rescue effort on Thursday for 22 gold miners trapped underground after an explosion at a mine in Yantai, Shandong province.

Those responsible for the late reporting of an explosion at a gold mine under construction in eastern China have been placed under control, according to a news conference on Wednesday, as rescue teams were racing to save workers trapped underground.

More than 320 rescuers have joined the search for 22 workers who were trapped underground after an explosion at a gold mine under construction in Yantai, Shandong province, according to news briefings held on Tuesday by the rescue team.

The rescue of 22 workers trapped after an explosion ripped through a gold mine in Yantai, Shandong province, has slowed because poisonous gas cannot be dispersed in a short time, and drills have been blocked by obstacles, according to a notice released on Tuesday morning by the city.