Rescuers working to save 24 trapped in flooded coal mine in N. China

World Today

(Updated April 20, 2015)

Rescue of 24 people trapped after water flooded in a coal mine in north China’s Shanxi Province on Sunday is still underway.

More than 600 rescuers at the Jiangjiawan coal mine have pumped out over 1,500 cubic meters of water.

“Four pumps are working and the the water level has dropped by 70 centimeters,” a rescuer said. Meanwhile, rescuers are also drilling holes in the ground to pump more water.

A total of 247 people were working in the mine when the accident occurred at around 6:50 p.m. on Sunday; 223 people made it out safely. The coal mine owned by Datong Coal Mine Group, has an annual production capacity of 900,000 tonnes.

Initial investigation suggests the flooding was caused by water accumulated in a mined-out area of the colliery.

Report compiled with information from China Radio International and Xinhua News.