Rescuers lifted another three of the eight trapped miners onto ground Monday night after Saturday's iron mine collapse in east China's Anhui Province, saying they were struggling to pull a fifth miner whose legs were stuck by rocks.

However, the remaining three had been confirmed dead in the mine, said Cheng Chuanru, director of the Anhui Provincial Administration for Work Safety.

There were difficulties to pull the fifth miner out, rescuers at the site said.

Four miners, including a female, had been pulled out alive fromthe collapsed shaft and were rushed to the Anqing City Hospital.

The first survivor, Hu Dexiang, was saved at 5:41 PM Monday after being trapped in the Dalongshan Iron Mine in the city of Anqing for more than 60 hours. He was then sent to the local hospital.

Hu regained consciousness and could speak, doctors said. Hu asked for a meal but doctors gave him only milk for drink as he was very weak.

Eight miners were trapped underground at a depth of 130 meters after the mine in the Dalongshan Township collapsed at 4:50 AM Saturday. Dust and water capped the ventilation hole and the exit after the tragedy, making it impossible for the miners to escape.

More than 1,000 rescuers have participated in the rescue operation over the past few days.

The Dalongshan Iron Mine was founded in 1992 as a township-run company but was privatized in 1999. It employs 15 people and produces 15,000 tons of iron ore a year.

In the wake of the tragedy, the city government of Anqing ordered all local mines to halt production for a safety overhaul.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2006)