BEIJING-
Rescue efforts continued on Tuesday to recover 22 miners trapped in a coal mine in southern China since Monday.
On Monday, blasting on an upper level of the Xiahaizi mine in Yunnan province caused a shaft flooding on Monday. Four miners were successful in escaping the trap but 22 others have been stuck in the mine,the official Xinhua News Agency said.
According to Chinese state media, the resuce operation was being hampered by narrow passageways and a lack of electricity.
Chen, a government spokeswoman in Qujing city’s Qilin district where the mine is located, confirmed that rescue work was continuing but had no further details.
Neither she nor Xinhua had any information about the condition of the miners still inside.
Xinhua said more than 500 people and three high-powered pumps were at the mine, with more rescuers, pumps and electrical systems on their way.
China’s mines are notoriously deadly, although safety improvements have significantly reduced the deaths in recent years.