Rescue workers had removed 106,516 cubic meters of water from the flooded pit in north China's Shanxi Province by 6 PM Tuesday, according to the rescue headquarters.

The pumping has resulted in the lowering of the water level by 4.57 meters. Rescue experts estimated a total of 200,000 cubic meters of water flooded the mine. 

Rescue operations continued Tuesday, 13 days after the flooding in Xinjing Coal Mine in Zuoyun County, which trapped 56 miners. Rescue officials' admit there's little chance of finding any of the trapped miners alive.

Six water pumps were operational and three others were being serviced, said the rescue headquarters.

The flooding occurred at 8:30 PM on May 18 when 266 miners were working underground. A total of 210 miners managed to escape.

Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, has lashed out at over-production which is said to be a major factor relating to the accident. The mine holds a license to produce 90,000 tons of coal annually but it's claimed it produced 130,000 tons from March 2 to May 18.
 
So far 19 people, including the mine's owner and labor contractors, have been detained by police.

Zhang Mingsheng, head of Zuoyun County and Shi Lu, deputy head, who is in charge of coal mining, were removed from their posts last Saturday.

Three officials of Zhangjiachang Town, where the mine is located, including Party Secretary Chang Rui and township head Liu Yongxin, have also been suspended from their posts.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)