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Scores trapped in China coal mine Scores trapped in China coal mine
(about 5 hours later)
Chinese emergency teams are searching for 172 miners who were working underground when a coal mine flooded, state media has reported. Chinese emergency teams are searching for 172 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine, state media has reported.
Amid heavy rain in Xintai city, 450km (280 miles) south of Beijing, rescuers have already led 584 miners to safety, Xinhua news agency said. Officials told Xinhua news agency the workers have only a slim chance of survival in the mine, in Xintai city 450km (280 miles) south of Beijing.
Senior Communist Party officials are now co-ordinating the rescue effort. The agency reported that hundreds of troops and police were at the scene helping rescue teams.
China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with more than 5,000 deaths reported annually.China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with more than 5,000 deaths reported annually.
"There were 756 miners working under the ground when the accident occurred," Zhang Dekuan, deputy secretary-general of the provincial government, said. Hopes were also fading for the survival of nine other miners, trapped in another mine nearby.
Of these, 584 were rescued, he added. Banks burst
Describing the Xintai flood, local official Zhang Dekuan said: "There were 756 miners working under the ground when the accident occurred."
Of these, 584 managed to escape from the pit, he said.
Xinhua reported that the mine, in eastern China's Shandong province, was overrun with surface water at about 1430 local time (0630 GMT) on Friday.Xinhua reported that the mine, in eastern China's Shandong province, was overrun with surface water at about 1430 local time (0630 GMT) on Friday.
The area was hit with about 205mm of rain, triggering flash floods and bursting the banks of the nearby Wen river.
Floodwater from the river swamped the coal mine via an old shaft, Xinhua said.
About 2,000 Chinese army troops, armed police and miners are trying to shore up the river's banks.