The number of miners trapped in a flooded southwest China coal mine has risen to 15, said work safety authorities Thursday.

Rescue work is continuing. [Xinhua]

The flooding occurred at around 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Xinqiao coal mine in Qinglong County, Guizhou Province, when 30 people were working underground, said an official with the Guizhou Provincial Work Safety Administration.

Fifteen escaped unharmed.

Rescuers said the volume of floodwater was estimated at 1,000 to 3,000 cubic meters.

Rescue work is continuing, and cause of the accident is being investigated.

The mine has a designed capacity of 150,000 tonnes.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2009)