Lu Wanli, owner of a coal mine in southwestern Guizhou Province where 15 workers were trapped by floods, was under investigation Thursday for failing to report the accident timely, said local authorities.

According to Lu, after the accident, he thought that he could rescue the trapped miners on his own.

The flood occurred at about 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Xinqiao coal mine, which is 95 kilometers from the county seat.

The police received a call from local residents at 3:25 a.m. Thursday saying that "more than ten miners were trapped underground." The mine didn't report the accident until two hours later.

Lu is cooperating with rescuers to save the miners. It isn't yet known what penalties he'll face.

"The law stipulates that those who delay reporting accidents shall be punished in line with the consequences" of their failure to report, said Jin Jiate, a lawyer in Guiyang, Guizhou's capital.

"The punishment could be a fine, detention, or worse," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2009)