PINGTANG, Guizhou - Rescuers retrieved the first dead body Wednesday night in a coal pit of southwest China's Guizhou Province, more than 10 days after a flood trapped 23 workers underground.

The victim, who was yet to be identified, was found 100 meters down the shaft of Niupeng Mine in Pingtang County of the Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan, the emergency rescue headquarters said Thursday.

Rescuers were still draining the shaft of flood water Thursday, hoping to find more victims.

Downpour and a drainage system breakdown were blamed for the coal mine flood that happened on July 2.

A similar accident trapped 24 workers at an iron core mine in east China's Shandong Province on Sunday. Rescue work was still going on but no signs of life was detected by Wednesday night.