19 stuck in flooded mine in Qinghai await rescue

Rescue efforts are underway after a coal mine was flooded by mud in northwestern China's Qinghai province on Saturday, leaving one miner dead and 19 others trapped.

The accident happened around noon when 21 people were working in the mine in Gangca county, Haibei Tibetan autonomous prefecture, the provincial emergency management department said.

Two miners were lifted out, including one who was dead, while the rest remained trapped, the department said.

The local fire and rescue department has mobilized 32 fire engines and 120 firefighters to take part in rescue work.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to Qinghai to guide rescue efforts. It is being led by Huang Yuzhi, vice-minister of emergency management and head of the National Mine Safety Administration.

Huang Ming, head of the ministry, demanded all-out efforts to save the trapped miners while arranging rescue work via livestream in Beijing. He also asked local authorities across the country to step up measures to enhance supervision to prevent such accidents.

The mine was put into operation in September 2009, with a designed production capacity of 900,000 metric tons a year.

Xinhua - China Daily