Coal mine flooding in Henan trapps 42 miners
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-04 08:42

Forty-two miners were trapped underground on Saturday after a coal mine in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, was flooded Friday.

As of Saturday evening, more than 200 rescue workers were racing against the clock to pump out water in an attempt to reach the missing.

The water level underground was declining and the concentration of toxic gas was falling enormously as four water pumps were operating. Medical workers and ambulances are also on hand.

The tragedy took place in the Sigou Coal Mine about 150 kilometer west to Zhengzhou City, the provincial capital, at about at 11:40 p.m. Friday when 76 miners were working underground.

A previous report said only 48 miners were working underground when the accident took place, but an investigation by Xinhua correspondent showed the figure was underestimated.

Only 34 miners escaped the site of flooding inside the privately-run coal mine, sources from the on-the-spot rescue headquarters said.

A spokesman of the Xin'an County government said the coal mine was privately owned and its managerial staffs, including the mine owner Jin Changsong, fled shortly after the accident.

He said most of those missing miners were locals.

Shi Jichun, vice governor of the province, has arrived at the scene to lead the rescue work.

A 14-member State Council working team arrived Saturday afternoon at Xin'an to coordinate and organize the rescue operation and disaster relief work of the fatal accident.

The working team is headed by Liang Jiakun, vice director of the State Administration of Work Safety and Wang Shuhe, vice director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision.

Liang said leaders of the State Council showed great concern over the flooding accident and ordered a rapid rescue operation and disaster relief.

The official asked the local government to make a complete rescue plan.

He added that the local government must deal with the aftermath including compensation as quickly as possible.

The Sigou Coal Mine is capable of producing 60,000 tons of coal annually. It has not obtained a license for work safety.

The cause of the coal mine flooding was unknown and further investigation was under way.