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Efforts to save the lives of nearly two dozen miners trapped in southwest China are underway. More than 300-thousand gallons of water are being pumped out every hour, in a race against time.
Heavy rainfall and a drainage system breakdown are being blamed for the flooding of a mine in southwest China, leaving 23 workers trapped underground.
The accident happened at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Niupeng Mine in Guizhou Province.
Shortly after the accident, mine authorities confirmed 21 workers were trapped. But two others were found missing Sunday and are believed to have entered the pit.
At present 350,000 gallons of water are being pumped out every hour. The drainage capacity is expected to reach nearly 530,000 gallons an hour on Monday when more pumps are installed.
However, risks exist if water is being drained at a faster speed.
The lowering ground water level in the mine will cause surrounding water to flow faster into the mine or even gush out, which will threaten the rescuers underground.
The majority of the trapped miners are from the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.