JIDONG, Heilongjiang - A senior official in charge of coal mine safety has reached the site of a flooded coal mine where 13 miners are trapped in northeast Heilongjiang province.

Peng Jianxun, deputy minister of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety (SACMS), with a working team from the administration, arrived at the coal mine in Jidong county on Thursday night to direct the rescue effort.

The flood occurred on Tuesday afternoon, but the cause remains unknown.

About 4,540 cubic meters of flood water has been drained off as of 8 am Friday, and the water level of the mine has been lowered by 1.93 meters.