2 coal mine accidents trap 17 in NE China

HARBIN - Eleven people were left trapped after a fire broke out on Sunday in a coal mine in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

The incident happended after flooding in another mine in the same province on Saturday, which trapped six miners.

The latest accident occurred at around 8 am at the Longshan coal mine in Youyi county of Shuangyashan city, the county government said in a statement.

An initial investigation showed that a total of 13 people were working underground. Two were lifted out after the accident.

The government said the county's coal management bureau had ordered the mine to suspend production on Sept 3, after its license expired a day earlier.

Illegal production was being blamed for the accident, the government said.

The incident on Saturday, saw flooding at a coal mine in Jidong county, also in Heilongjiang Province, trapping six miners.

Rescue efforts of the miners in both mines are under way.