53 rescued, 5 trapped in mine accidents

GUIYANG - Fifty-three people have been rescued while five miners remain trapped in a coal mine after the mine's tunnel collapsed twice in southwest China's Guizhou province, the local rescue headquarters said.

The first collapse of Anlilai Coal Mine in Pu'an county occurred at 6:26 pm Wednesday, trapping five miners, according to sources on-site with the rescue headquarters.

Fifty-three rescuers were sent underground to dig a tunnel to reach the miners when the second collapse occurred at 2:15 pm Thursday, trapping the rescuers, said the rescue headquarters.

The 53 people were all pulled out unscathed six hours later through a newly-dug tunnel. Rescuers are still searching for the five miners, who have been underground for 32 hours so far.

An investigation into the cause of the accidents is underway.

The mine, located in Louxia township of Pu'an county, has an annual production capacity of 210,000 tonnes.