Society

Two miners dead, 6 missing; rescue into Day 3

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-26 15:40

Rescuers prepare to enter the well at the flooded Xiao'aozi Coal Mine in Panxian County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 25, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

GUIYANG - Two miners have been confirmed dead while six others are still missing as rescue work entered its third day after a coal mine flood in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The bodies of the two miners were found Tuesday morning after rescue team had pumped water out of the mine in Panxian county for more than 30 hours, said Yang Yongxiang, a member of the rescue team.

Yang said the water in the transport tunnel was originally estimated at about 10 meters deep. The water level has since dropped 7.8 meters and rescue workers are now able to see the ceiling of the tunnel at its lowest point, Yang added.

The accident occurred at about 7 pm Sunday, when 45 miners were working in the mine. Thirty-seven of them scrambled to safety, but eight others failed to get out.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are still underway.

The mine, around 330 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Guiyang, is capable of producing 150,000 tonnes of coal per year, and was operating legally.