Twenty-two miners have died and another seven are feared lost following a flood at a coal mine in the northeastern province of Liaoning, state media reported Sunday. The State Administration of Coal and Mine Safety said that search and rescue work was ongoing. It is believed that the flood, which occurred late Saturday at a pit belonging to state-owned Fushun Mining Group, was followed by a gas leak and that there is danger of the mine ceiling collapsing. The 100-year-old mine employs 7,200 people and produces 3.35 million tons of coal per year from reserves estimated at 160 million tons. It is considered one of China's 45 most dangerous coal mines due to its susceptibility to flooding, fire and gas leaks. Last year, 4,746 people died in 2,845 mining accidents in China, according to official statistics, although independent labor groups put the real death toll as high as 20,000.
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