More than 200 miners are trapped and feared dead in a flooded tin mine in China's southern region of Guangxi, said another report in Wenhui Daily Tuesday.

It alleged the owners of the mine tried to stop news of the disaster spreading partly by paying a compensation of 20,000 yuan ($2,400) to relatives of each victim to buy their silence.

The newspaper said the accident at the Lajiapo mine occurred last Thursday.

The mine belongs to Nandan County Longquan Mine Smelter, the Wenhui Daily said. Officials were not immediately available for comment.

(Xinhua 07/31/2001)