9 still trapped in flooded SW China colliery

YANHE, Guizhou - Nine miners were still trapped in the flooded colliery in Southwest China's Guizhou province, as continuous rainfall has hampered the rescue efforts, local authorities said Tuesday.

By Tuesday, rescuers have recovered the bodies of two miners, and are still rushing to pump water out to rescue the trapped under the Xinsheng Coal Mine in Qiaojia township, Yanhe Tujia autonomous county, said Han Shuqiang, a rescue expert on the scene.

Han said heavy rainstorm pounded the region from Sunday, and the water levels down the colliery shaft is still rising.

Local weather forecast department said more rain is expected in the next 48 hours.

The shaft became flooded at about 10:20 am Thursday, when 23 miners were working underground. Twelve managed to escape on their own, leaving 11 trapped.

The mine has a designated annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes, and the cause of the accident is being investigated.