Society

One body found in flooded China coal mine

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-06 14:23

JINCHENG, Shanxi - Rescuers have retrieved a body from a flooded coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province, and were still pumping out water Sunday morning in a bid to reach 10 others.

The Donggou Coal Mine run by Jincheng Anthracite Mining Group in Zezhou County, Jincheng City, was flooded at 5 a.m. Thursday. Of the 86 miners in the pit, 75 were evacuated in time.

Rescuers found the miner's body Saturday night, Zhang Jiti, a publicity official of the mining group, said Sunday.

At least nine pumps were draining the flooded pit Sunday. By 8 p.m. Saturday, about 20,000 cubic meters of water had been pumped out and the water level had dropped by 14.9 meters.

Cave-ins and silt in the water have hampered the search operation, rescuers said.