7 killed in illegal mining incident in SW China

CHONGQING -- Seven people drowned after rainwater surged into a mine shaft where they were illegally mining in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, local police said Monday.

Police in Youyang Tujia and Miao autonomous county said the victims were found in a closed, abandoned mine near the boundary between Youyang and Xiushan Tujia and Miao autonomous county.

They also caught 21 people suspected of illegal mining during a search following reports of missing people at the mine on Saturday.

Further investigation is underway, the police said.