10 miners killed in N China coal mine accident

Rescuers carry the body of a miner onto an ambulance at the entrance of Zhengsheng Coal Mine in Fenyang of North China's Shanxi province on Oct 8, ten days after the mine flooded. Ten miners have been confirmed dead. [Photo/Xinhua]

FENYANG, Shanxi - Ten miners were confirmed dead after their bodies were recovered on Tuesday, 10 days after a coal mine in North China's Shanxi province flooded late last month.

The accident occurred at 3:10 am on September 28 at the Zhengsheng Coal Mine of Shanxi Coking Coal Group Co., Ltd. in Fenyang City. Forty-two miners were working underground at the time.

Twelve miners were trapped and 30 others were lifted out of the mine shaft safely in the wake of the flooding.

Two miners were found alive early Tuesday morning, 10 days after they were trapped in the mine shaft, a company source said. The survivors are being treated in a local hospital.

The state-owned coal mine has an annual production capacity of 900,000 tons.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.