Death Toll Rises to 12 in Coal Mine Flooding in SW China Province

Death toll rises to 12 in coal mine flooding in SW China province

GUANG’AN, Sichuan, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — Death toll in a coal mine flooding occurred in southwest China’s Sichuan Province Tuesday night has risen to 12, local official said Wednesday.

Sixteen miner are still missing, said Yang Zhiwen, vice governor of Sichuan.

The accident took place around 9 p.m. on Tuesday at an uphill driving face beneath the Longtan Coal Mine, which is situated at Xiaojing Township in Guang’an City, according to the Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Office.

A total of 32 miners were operating underground and only four escaped.

The coal mine, which is administered by Guang’an Energy Group Co. Ltd. of Sichuan Provincial Coal Industry Corporation, was built in June 2003 with a designed annual production capacity of 550,000 tons.

According to preliminary investigation, the flooding may be caused by drilling through a water-eroded cave or an underground river.

Rescue operation is going on and the cause of the accident is under investigation.