Mine bosses accused of negligence over flood

A fatal flash flood at a coal mine in eastern Shandong province could have been avoided if the bosses had paid attention to warning signals, AFP reported, citing state media. As rescue efforts continued, it was feared that all 172 miners trapped in the mine when the water began to enter are now dead. Some miners said the rising water level was reported to company bosses well in advance but nothing was done about it. Rescue officials were quoted as saying that the water level was still 100 meters above the nearest point where miners were believed to have been working. It will take 100 days to drain the flood water out, they added. More than 4,700 coal miners died last year, according to official figures, while independent labor groups put the number at up to 20,000 per year.