THE death toll from a flooded coal mine in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province has climbed to 22, the rescue headquarters said yesterday.

Rescuers found two more bodies in the pit at the Fushun Mining Group, a State-owned company in Fushun, a major industrial city east of the provincial capital Shenyang, said sources with the provincial safety watchdog.

Rescuers were still searching for seven missing yesterday.

The 29 miners were working on platform No. 73003 of the Laohutai Mine when it was submerged at 8:44 p.m. Saturday.

“The flood was followed by a gas leak and the platform was blacked out after the gas density hit 1.76 percent,” said Wang Liancheng, a manager of the mine.

The gas density fell below the 1.5 percent danger level yesterday afternoon after the rescuers restored the ventilation system, he said.

Seventy-two rescuers in six teams were taking part in the rescue mission.

Wang said there were still risks of further flooding, gas leaks or ceiling collapse.

Fushun Mining Group has dispatched more than 400 employees to inform and counsel the victims’ families. A doctor, a nurse and at least one car are standing by at each household in case of emergency, said Wang.

The General Hospital of Fushun Mining Group and Laohutai Hospital were ready to provide first aid to survivors.

The ill-fated mine had been closed for a safety overhaul.

Laohutai, which translates into “tiger’s platform,” is a 100-year-old mine with 160 million tons of remaining coal reserves. It employs 7,200 people and produces 3.35 million tons a year.

It is also one of the country’s 45 most dangerous coal mines because of the high risk of flooding, fire and gas leaks.

Coal mining accidents killed 357 people in China in the first two months of this year, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

It said 4,746 people died in 2,845 coal mine accidents last year, an average of 13 deaths a day.(Xinhua)