More flooding, fire hit flooded Xinjiang coal mine
( 2003-10-24 15:51) (Xinhua)
Fresh flooding might have hit the coal mine in Urumqi, capital of northwest
China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where rescuers have been attempting
pump out water and save trapped miners since it first flooded Sunday.
According to the rescue team, the water level had risen to three meters by
noon Friday in the tunnel that had been pumped out.
In addition, rescuers felt heat on the tunnel wall, indicating fire might
have occurred inside as well.
Rescuers had expected to pump out water and lower the gas concentration by
Friday. The concentration of gas exceeded 9 percent in the mine on Thursday.
Fourteen workers were in the Xishan Coal Mine when the flooding occurred at
about 7:10 a.m. Sunday. Seven escaped.
No sign of life of the seven trapped miners had been received in the past
five days.
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