Five missing as death toll from mine flood in Shanxi rises to 16
Five still missing underground at the pit in Shanxi province
The number of people killed in a mine flood in northern China has risen to 16, with five still trapped, state media reported.
More than 600 rescue workers were pumping water and drilling holes from the surface in hopes of reaching those still inside the Jiangjiawan mine near the city of Datong in Shanxi province, the reports said.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency said 6,100 cubic metres of water had already been pumped out as of Tuesday afternoon.
A total of 247 miners were underground when water rushed into the shaft on Sunday evening.
Of those, 223 people made it safely to the surface.
Such accidents are usually caused by breaches of abandoned shafts where water has collected over time.