Society

Flood continues at SW China colliery; 23 trapped

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-07-03 16:04

GUIYANG - Flood waters continued to pour into a coal mine in Southwest China's Guizhou Province Sunday following Saturday's flood that trapped 23 workers underground.

A rescuer walks on the hose during a break at a flooded coal mine where 23 workers are confirmed to be trapped underground in Pingtang County of the Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 3, 2011. Rescuers worked through the night to pump water from the pit. By 9 am Sunday, 23,000 cubic meters of flood water had been drained. [Photo/Xinhua]

The accident happened at 9:30 am Saturday at Niupeng Mine in Pingtang County of the Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan.

Shortly after the accident, mine authorities confirmed 21 workers were trapped. But two others were found missing Sunday and were believed to have entered the pit.

The emergency rescue headquarters said the underground water level still kept rising by midday Sunday.

Related readings:  Two coal mine disasters kill 3, trap 40  Rescuers rush to reach 19 trapped miners in S China

Rescuers worked through the night to pump water from the pit. By 9 am Sunday, 23,000 cubic meters of flood water had been drained, said Wang Jinzhong, an official from State Administration of Work Safety.

He said four more pumps were being installed, hoping to speed up draining to 1,650 cubic meters an hour from the current 1,300 cubic meters.

The majority of the trapped miners are from the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Family members began arriving Sunday morning to wait for news.

The local government has mobilized 500 people to receive and console the grieved family members.

Saturday saw a coal mine disaster in Guangxi, where three were confirmed dead and 19 remained stranded following a cave-in.

Rescuers are still digging into the shaft Sunday, hoping to reach the missing workers.

But high levels of explosive gas and siltage in the shaft hindered rescue efforts and little progress was reported.

Rescuers carry equipment to pump water from a flooded coal mine where 23 workers are confirmed to be trapped underground in Pingtang County of the Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 3, 2011. Rescuers worked through the night to pump water from the pit. By 9 am Sunday, 23,000 cubic meters of flood water had been drained. [Photo/Xinhua]