Rescue efforts underway as 19 trapped in coal mine in China's Qinghai

Rescue team members gather at the site of a coal mine accident in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 14, 2021. China's Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to the northwest province of Qinghai to guide rescue efforts after a coal mine was flooded by mud on Saturday. Of the 21 miners working in the mine when the accident occurred, two were lifted to the ground, including one who was confirmed dead, while the rest remained trapped, according to the ministry. Rescue operations are underway as more rescuers rushed to the site. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)

XINING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Rescue efforts are underway after a coal mine was flooded by mud, leaving one dead and 19 others trapped in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Saturday.

The accident happened around noon when 21 people were working in the mine located in Gangca County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, said the provincial emergency management department.

Two miners were lifted to the ground, including one who was confirmed dead, while the rest remained trapped, the department said.

The coal mine was ordered by the provincial mine safety administration to suspend production and rectify irregularities on Aug. 2, said Yin Maowen, deputy head of Haibei prefecture, at a press conference early Sunday morning.

Qinghai provincial government has activated the provincial level-II emergency response, and allocated more than 30,000 pieces of emergency relief materials to the site, said Yin.

The local fire and rescue department has mobilized 32 fire engines and 120 fire fighters to participate in rescue work.

"By 9 p.m. Saturday, over 200 rescuers from professional rescue teams and departments of fire, public security, health and emergency management had been dispatched to carry out rescue operations," said Yin.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to Qinghai to guide rescue efforts. The team was led by Huang Yuzhi, vice minister of emergency management and head of the National Mine Safety Administration.

Huang Ming, minister of emergency management, ordered an investigation into the accident, and called on local authorities nationwide to intensify safety supervision to prevent occurrence of major accidents.

Yin said that investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the accident and those responsible for the accident will be held accountable.

Data shows that the mine was put into operation in September 2009, with a designed production capacity of 900,000 tonnes a year.