Miners said the mine showed signs of flooding six days before the fatal accident. However, management ordered them to keep on mining.

"On May 18, a team leader had an argument with management as he insisted mining should stop because it was too dangerous. He was slapped in the face by a manager," said a miner surnamed Yang.

The angry team leader did not go to work underground, avoiding the accident, he added.

Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, has blamed excessive production for the accident. The coal mine had a license to produce 90,000 tons a year, but produced 130,000 tons from March 2 to May 18.

Rescuers yesterday were still battling to save the 57 trapped miners.

The water level beneath the shaft is falling as pumping continues and the rescuers have mobilized high-power pumps from major mines nearby to speed up the process.

A large crowd of miners and family members of trapped miners have been waiting for news in front of rescue headquarters.

Nine management staff, including the owner of the miner Li Fuyuan, have been detained by the police. However, two managers, including one who was responsible for work safety, have gone into hiding, said Bai Yulong, spokesman of the rescue headquarters.

Bai also said the local public security department had frozen 11 million yuan (1.38 million US dollars) in 11 accounts owned by the management staff. and recovered 8 million yuan (1 million US dollars) in cash.

Chang Rui, Party secretary of Zhangjiachang Town, where the mine is located, and Liu Yongxin, the township head, have been suspended.

Zuoyun County has also suspended coal production at all local collieries for safety inspections.

Local officials had earlier played down the accident's extent, saying only five miners were trapped.