Rush to save 7 trapped in flooded colliery

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Rescuers are rushing to save the seven miners who have been trapped for four days in a flooded coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

As of 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a total of 39,290 cubic meters of water had been pumped out of the flooded shaft at the Dachong Coal Mine in Changtian Township, Huishui County, according to the disaster relief and rescue headquarters.

At that point, the water level in the shaft was still five meters above where the miners were trapped, said Wu Danping, deputy head of the county.

Rescuers on the scene said the survival chances of those trapped were slim as there were no elevated points on which they could shelter in the shaft. However, Gao Fangde, chief engineer of the coal mine, said flowing water may have blocked some air inside the shaft, which could have prevented the miners from drowning.

The accident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Friday when 33 miners were working underground. Twenty-six managed to escape, and seven others were submerged by water.

The licensed mine has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

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