8 rescued five days after north China colliery flooding

TAIYUAN - Eight miners who had been trapped in a flooded coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province for more than five days were lifted up from the pit early Friday morning, local authorities said.

The flooding occurred at a coal mine shaft in Jincheng City around 10:53 p.m. Saturday when 94 people were working in the shaft, 82 of whom were evacuated. Twelve miners were trapped after the flooding.

The eight miners had been reached by phone on Sunday. After about 125 hours' continuous rescue efforts, they were brought to safety at 4:26 a.m. on Friday. They were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.

Rescuers are still searching for the four others.