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One dead, 12 missing in C China mine flood

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-23 01:26
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CHANGSHA - One of 13 miners missing in flooded mines in Central China's Hunan province was found dead Thursday, and 12 others remain missing, rescue headquarters said.

Rescuers retrieved the missing miner's body Thursday afternoon while racing to pump water from the two manganese mines flooded Tuesday in Huayuan county of Xiangxi Tujia-Miao autonomous prefecture.

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The conditions of the trapped miners are unknown, but rescuers said "It is not impossible that the 12 miners are still alive" after being trapped for two days.

"Based on Xiangxi's geological conditions, there might be caves underground. If there are, the miners can seek shelter there and live for up to seven days," said a spokesman in the rescue headquarters.

However, rescuers said torrential rains continue to make the rescue work extremely difficult.

Still, more than 60 workers, soldiers and firefighters were working around the clock to pump out water and save the miners' lives.

Water began rushing into the two manganese mines run by Leixin Mining Development Co and Wenhua Manganese Co in Huayuan at about 6:10 pm Tuesday.