2010-04-09 10:33

XIANGNING, Shanxi - The death toll in the flooded Wangjialing Coal Mine in north China's Shanxi province rose to 23 Friday while rescuers were still searching for another 15 unaccounted for, rescue authorities said.

As of late Thursday, about 240,000 cubic meters of water had been pumped out, much more than the presumed 130,000 cubic meters, said Liu Dezheng, spokesman of the rescue operation, late Thursday.

Seven of nine working sections had been ruled out for the existence of survivors and the targeted areas were narrowed down to two sections, he said.

A total of 261 miners were working below ground when the mine was flooded on March 28. Some 108 miners escaped unharmed while 153 were trapped underground.

On Monday, 115 miners were brought out of the mine alive after being trapped for more than a week.