Latest check results show that the number of trapped miners in a coal mine flooding in north China's Shanxi Province might rise to 57, the previous figure was 44, rescuers said Sunday afternoon.

A check team of the rescue headquarters said the number of miners trapped underground is probably 57, after they have made an investigation among the miners' families.

The flooding took place at 8:30 PM Thursday at Xinjing Coal Mine, a legal township coal producing entity in Zuoyun County, northern Shanxi. The mine has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tons.

Rescuers had said earlier that 145 miners were working underground when the flooding accident took place and 101 managed to escape.

But local safety officials had tried to cover up the accident by saying that only five miners were trapped in the flooding.

The check team is now still working to get an exact number of the miners trapped in the coal mine by thoroughly checking with miners' families.

More pumping facilities have been used to speed up pumping water from the flooded pit, hoping to increase the chance of survival for the trapped miners.

Police have detained some of the managerial personnel of the mine. Investigation into the cause of the accident is also underway.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)