Reuters reported that China National Coal Group Corp mining operations in north Shaanxi Province were suspended after eight miners died in a colliery flooding at one of the company subsidiaries there.

Mr Li Xiaopeng Shaanxi Vice Governor said the flooding exposed serious problems in the implementation of safety measures and vowed a thorough investigation into the accident.

Xinhua reported officials as saying that ChinaCoal, a state owned company must conduct a safety overhaul before operations can resume.

The workers bodies were retrieved on Saturday after they had been trapped underground in the flooded coal mine in Shanyin County a day ago. Three others remain missing.

The 900,000 tonnes a year mine is operated by ChinaCoal subsidiary Jinhaiyang Yuanbaowan Coal Company.

(Sourced from Reuters)