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16 trapped in NE China colliery flooding

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-04 20:54

HARBIN -- Sixteen workers were trapped in a flooded coal mine Saturday in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local authorities said.

The accident occurred at about 5:30 a.m. when 22 miners were working beneath Jinli coal mine in Jidong County, Jixi City. Six escaped and 16 others were still missing as of Saturday noon, said Jixi city government.

The coal mine, owned by a local company known as Tianyuan Company, is  a legal undertaking capable of producing 40,000 tonnes of coal a year. It  was said to have resumed coal production without a prior approval as required, according to the city government.

Rescue work and an investigation into the cause of the flood are underway.