Tibet Mine Disaster: Desperate Search for 83 Trapped Workers

Rescue workers in Tibet are racing to find 83 mine workers buried by a landslide at a gold mine on the outskirts of capital Lhasa.

No trace of the missing workers has yet have been found, but officials rate the chance of finding survivors as slim as the miners have now been buried for more than 29 hours.

Local government officials said the rescue workers are continuing their efforts in Maizhokunggar county, Lhasa. The 2,000-strong rescue team includes firefighters, medics and soldiers.

The landslide, described as a "natural disaster", has affected an area of 3 sq km. About 2 million cubic metres of mud, rock and debris are believed to have caused tremendous damage at the gold mining site.

The rescue operation has been hampered by minor landslides at an altitude of 4,600m (15,000ft).

The missing miners were working for Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Co Ltd, an arm of the state-run China National Gold Group Corporation, China's biggest gold producer.

The Tibetan plateau has rich resources, including large deposits of copper and iron ore.

According to reports, newly appointed Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered officials to "spare no efforts" in the rescue operation.

Local media report that most of the missing workers are ethnic Han Chinese, while two are said to be Tibetans.

Hospitals nearby remain on full alert for survivors.