7 dead, 17 trapped in China mine flooding

Flooding at a mine in northern China has killed seven miners and left 17 others trapped deep underground.

State media said Tuesday that the incident happened when water rushed into a shaft inside the Jiangjiawan mine near the city of Datong in Shanxi Province.

Of a total of 247 miners who were underground, 223 people were rescued, officials say.

Reports say hundreds of rescuers were trying to save those trapped underground by pumping water and drilling holes from the surface.

“Four pumps are working and the water level has dropped by 70 centimeters,” Xinhua news agency quoted a rescue worker as saying on Tuesday.

Over 1,500 cubic meters of water has been pumped out of the mine so far, he said.

Rescue forces found the bodies of those who died Monday evening.

China’s notoriously dangerous mines have seen declining deaths in recent years because of safety improvements as well as a decreasing demand for coal.

DB/HJL/HMV

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