A strong earthquake occurred in the Tangshan-Fengnan area in Hopei Province of North China at 03:42 hours on July 28, 1976. A general headquarter was set up immediately to perform the functions of organization and administration. This was the most essential authority in keeping everything in order in such a disaster area. Mine Rescue Corps and mobile medical teams from many parts of the country were called and rushed to the scene. Critical care was organized into 3 stages: (1) digging and rescue; (2) preliminary treatment and transfer; and (3) treatment after transfer.

The Mine Rescue Corps, existing normally in every coal mine, was the most efficient and valuable element in digging out victims and carrying out the most urgent resuscitative management. They dug and rescued, and also patrolled in the pits. They cleared the way for the coal miners. More than 10,000 miners, who were working in the pits during their night shift, were less able to return to the ground safely. As it was very difficult to locate every working group in such a labyrinth pits system, some coal miners had been left in the pits for long periods of time. There were, for instance, five coal miners who were working 850 meters underground and could not find their way out because the pits were badly damaged.