China coalmine flood kills 20, nine missing

Search for the nine missing miners is still on, said manager of the coalmine.

At least 20 people were confirmed dead and nine missing when a coalmine in Liaoning province of northeast China was flooded, officials said on Sunday.

HT Image

A shaft at the state-run Laohutai mine, in Fushun city, got inundated on Saturday night when 29 miners were working underground, the local safety officials said.

At least 20 bodies have been found but couldn't be recovered due to power failure. Search for the nine missing miners was still on, said Wang Liancheng, manager of the coalmine.

Laohutai, a 100-year-old coalmine, is one of the country's 45 most dangerous coalmines for its high risk of flooding, fire and gas leak.

The mine employs 7,200 people and produces 3.35 million tons per year.