Death toll in NE China colliery flooding rises to 5

Two more bodies were retrieved seven days after a coal mine was flooded in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, bringing the death toll to five, rescuers said Saturday. Rescuers recovered the two bodies at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, and they were continuing to search for the five others who remained missing, said a spokesman with the accident's rescue headquarters. The floodwater has almost been completely pumped out, and rescuers have entered the shaft to carry out rescue work. However, it will still take two to three days for rescuers to clear the way in the severely flood-damaged shaft, according to the spokesman. The accident happened at around 11:40 p.m. last Saturday when 22 miners were working underground at Furuixiang Coal Mine in Qitaihe City. Twelve of them managed to escape or were later rescued, including four who were found alive five days after the accident. An investigation into the accident is underway.