Toll from mine flooding in Sichuan hits 16
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-10-10 20:27

The death toll following the flooding of a coal mine in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Oct. 4 had risen to 16 by noon Monday, according the Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Office.

Rescue workers said 12 miners were still missing.

The accident took place around 9 p.m. last Tuesday at an uphilldriving face beneath the Longtan Coal Mine, which is situated at Xiaojing Township in Guang'an City.

A total of 32 miners were operating underground and only four escaped.

The coal mine, which is administered by Guang'an Energy Group Co. Ltd. of Sichuan Provincial Coal Industry Corporation, was built in June 2003 with a projected annual production capacity of 550,000 tons.

Field investigation showed that the flood water came from an underground limestone cave and a reservoir nearby, according to rescue experts.