Liu Qiang, a medical expert involved in the rescue, said after being trapped for more than 179 hours, the survivors were very weak and suffering from malnutrition. They had severe dehydration and skin infections from being in the water so long, he said.
Doctors have prepared treatment plans for each of the survivors.
Among the 36 survivors being treated at the Shanxi Aluminium Plant Hospital, some have been able to eat fluid food such as soup by late Monday, and some others said they felt hungry and wanted to eat more.
Also Monday, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions allocated 2 million yuan (294,118 U.S. dollars) to help treat the rescued workers.