THE Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) on Monday urged a thorough investigation into the cause of a coal mine flooding accident that happened Saturday in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The ministry will guide and help the local government to go all out to search and rescue trapped workers and minimize casualties.

At 6:10 p.m. Saturday, the coal mine flooded in Hutubi County, the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, trapping 21 people.

The MEM urged all coal-producing provinces and enterprises to check for safety hazards and required related regulatory organs to intensify law enforcement.

National rescue teams and local firefighting teams are aiding rescue operations following the accident, the ministry said.

The 21 miners have been roughly located in three different positions, though the rescue team still cannot contact them due to severed power and communication lines, local authorities said Monday.

Twelve are on a platform about 1,200 meters below ground, and eight others are on another platform. The last one entered a safe passage channel, but water had entered it and no further details were available, China Central Television reported.

Pumps have been put into operation to remove water, CCTV reported Monday morning.

The oxygen concentration underground appears enough for the trapped workers, Wang Wen, from the Xinjiang mine rescue team, was quoted as saying by CCTV. The water level is continuing to rise, but much more slowly than previously, he said.

Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang’s Party chief, said the region’s Party committee and government have attached great importance to the accident and will rescue those trapped at all costs and minimize injuries and casualties.

(Xinhua, China Daily)