Six miners confirmed dead in flooded S China coal mine

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-22 20:20

BAISE - Six of the 36 trapped miners were confirmed dead in the Nadu Mine in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where flooding occurred on Monday, said local mining authorities on Tuesday afternoon.

Rescuers discovered the six bodies in the flooded mine shaft, but they have kept searching for the remaining 30 miners believed to be trapped.

Mine authorities said 56 miners were underground when the mine flooded at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Seven miners managed to escape and rescuers extricated another 13 overnight.

However, there is some difference in official accounts of the situation. The website of the State Administration of Work Safety said there were 99 miners at work when the flood began at 3:15 p.m. and 50 escaped, 13 were rescued and 36 were trapped.

The 13 rescued miners were sent to the Renmin Hospital in the Dongtian County seat, the nearest suitable medical facility. Two who were slightly injured were discharged, according to hospital sources.

Huang Zhao, chief engineer of the mine, said the ventilation, drainage and lift facilities in the mine complied with regulations.

The mine has estimated reserves of 2.98 million tons of coal and is owned by the Youjiang Mining Bureau in Baise, which began mining in 2003.