The families of five people who died when a coal mine flooded in southwest China Wednesday are to receive compensation from the mine company, a company spokesman said Thursday.

Each family would receive 418,000 yuan (61,500 U.S. dollars) from the privately owned Yakou coal mine company in Yunnan Province, said the owner of the mine, Li Lichang.

The flood occurred at 11:30 a.m. at the mine in Fuyuan County, Qujing City, when eight miners were working underground, said the Qujing coal administration bureau.

Three managed to escape, but five were trapped. Rescuers retrieved their bodies at 2:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Police have detained the person who was in charge of the mine's safety. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2009)