40 workers rescued from flooded China mine, 16 still trapped

Forty workers trapped in a flooded coal mine in northeast China's Heilongjiang province were today rescued, as efforts are on to pull out 16 other miners.
The accident took place on Thursday when water flooded the privately-owned Anzhishun Coal Mine in Jixion city where 56 workers were in the shaft, said Fang Dongchu, head of the city's work safety department.
Twenty-five were still trapped early today, but nine miners were lifted to the ground, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The rescued have been rushed to hospital for treatment.
With the help of seven pumps, three professional rescue crews are working in four shifts a day, Fang said adding, they are also digging a tunnel to reach the workers.