The death toll from last Tuesday's coal mine flooding in Sichuan had risen to 16 by noon yesterday, and rescue workers said 12 miners were still missing.

The death toll following the flooding of a coal mine in southwest China's Sichuan Province on October 4 had risen to 16 by noon yesterday, according the provincial work safety office, and rescue workers said 12 miners were still missing.

The accident took place around 9 PM last Tuesday at an uphill area beneath Longtan Coal Mine, in Xiaojing Township of Guang'an City.

A total of 32 miners were operating underground at the time and only four escaped.

The colliery, administered by Guang'an Energy Group Co. Ltd. of Sichuan Provincial Coal Industry Corporation, was built in June 2003 with a projected annual production capacity of 550,000 tons.

According to rescue experts, field investigations found that flood water came from an underground limestone cave and a reservoir nearby.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2005)