(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-12 19:38

Fanchang, Anhui -- About 140 rescuers were struggling Wednesday to reach seven miners trapped in an iron ore mine following a cave-in in East China's Anhui Province.

The collapse at the Yangchong Iron Mine in Fanchang County, of Wuhu City, happened around 6:00 pm on Tuesday when falling rock and mud blocked access to the shaft.

"It is not clear whether the trapped miners are alive or not because the communication system underground has been destroyed completely and we cannot establish contact with them," said Cheng Chuanru, head of the Anhui Provincial Work Safety Administration.

Rescuers were excavating the blocked lane, clearing the silt and drilling the shaft to offer ventilation to the underground tunnel, he said.

"The room of the collapsed tunnel is very small, adding difficulties to the rescue work," he said.

"It is expected that the blocked lane will be broken through late tomorrow afternoon."

He said that most of the trapped miners, aged from 29 to 55, were local villagers.

The owner of the mine, Wang Yuanfa, has been in police custody since Tuesday night.

The privately-owned iron ore mine was built in 1987. It was renovated this year with a designed output capacity of 30,000 tons annually.