Coal mine flood traps 9, eight confirmed alive

Rescuers carry a tube to pump water from a coal mine flood in Xiangning county of North China's Shanxi province on July 1, 2010. Eight miners trapped 1,380 meters below ground contacted rescuers, and one was still missing. The flood occurred about 5 p.m. at Shengping Coal Mine, where 23 miners were performing repair work underground. Fourteen miners managed to escape. [Photo/Xinhua]

TAIYUAN - Eight of nine miners trapped underground Wednesday at a flooded coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province were confirmed alive, while another remains uncontactable, said local mine safety authorities.

As of 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, eight miners trapped 1,380 meters below ground had contacted the rescuers and they would be rescued soon.

The accident happened around 5 p.m. at Shengping Coal Mine in Jixian County when 23 miners were performing repair work underground. Fourteen miners managed to escape.

The Shengping Coal Mine, owned by the Shanxi Coal Transportation and Sales Group Co., Ltd., has an annual capacity of 900,000 tonnes of coal.

Rescuers rush to the coal mine after a flood in Xiangning county of North China's Shanxi province on July 1, 2010.[Photo/Xinhua]