Jilin Province's coal mine flooding on Wednesday occurred after workers accidentally opened up a nearby abandoned mine shaft, where 3,000 cubic meters of water had built up, a local government official said yesterday.

 

"We often find large quantities of water in old or abandoned coal mines. The sources include rain and underground water," said Zhang Shaojiang, head of the work safety supervision administration of Tonghua City.

 

The accident occurred at 5 AM on Wednesday morning at the Xiren Coal Mine in Wudaojiang Town when 19 miners were working underground. Four of them escaped, the administration said.

 

Twenty-three hours later, eight others were rescued on Thursday morning while efforts redoubled to reach the seven still trapped, according to Zhang.

 

"We are worried about the safety of the seven miners. According to those who were rescued, they have run into a small tunnel that is more vulnerable to flooding," said Zhang.

 

With five pumps running at full speed, more than 1,200 cubic meters of water had been pomped by 2 PM Thursday.

 

"The water level underground is expected to become low enough at noon on Friday for the rescuers to get access to the tunnel," said Zhang.

 

With an annual production of 30,000 tons, the privately-owned Xiren Coal Mine is a qualified coal mine, possessing all government operating licenses. No accident is ever recorded to have happened at the mine before.

 

Wednesday's gas poisoning at a mine in northern Shanxi Province that trapped 45 miners was started by a fire, the cause of which remains unknown, a local government official said yesterday.

 

The fire released carbon monoxide gas in the tunnel, said Zhang Riming, head of the rescue headquarters for the accident, adding that an investigation will determine the cause of the fire.

 

Zhang was previously quoted as saying the miners failed to carry out their duties according to safety regulations and thus accidentally opened up the gas pocket.

 

Forty-five miners were trapped when the incident occurred at the Danangou Coal Mine in the city of Datong at noon on Wednesday. Quick action resulted in all miners being swiftly rescued but one died in hospital, said Zhang.

 

"Most of the miners have been discharged from hospital, but two people who suffered serious poisoning are still in danger," he said, adding that most of the miners are from the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi.

 

With an annual production of 90,000 tons, the Danangou Coal Mine is also fully licensed to operate but the mine owner, who was also injured in the accident, is currently under the surveillance of the local public security department.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2006)