Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Twenty-two miners were confirmed dead and the lives of seven others were feared lost in a coal mine flood in Liaoning. State media confirmed reports, citing the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety.

The flood occurred late on March 10th in a pit belonging to the state-owned Fushun Mining Group. Search and rescue work is continuing, but there is little hope of finding the 7 missing miners still alive.

Xinhua news agency reported that gas had accumulated in the mine shaft following the flood, and there was a danger the mine's ceiling would collapse. Wang Liancheng, a mine manager, said that “the flood was followed by a gas leak and the work platform was blacked out”. Moreover, “With ventilators destroyed by the flood, the density of gas in the shaft remained at dangerous levels”. He added “there were still risks of further flooding, gas leaks or a ceiling collapse, all of which are hampering rescue efforts”.

The pit, known as Laohutai, or "Tiger's Platform", is a 100-year-old mine with 160 million tonnes of coal reserves. The pit employs around 7,200 people and produces 3.35 million tonnes a year, the report said. It was considered to be one of the country's 45 most dangerous coal mines because of the high risk of flooding, fire and gas leaks.

China's coal mining industry is one of the most dangerous in the world. Last year 4,746 people died in 2,845 accidents, official figures show - an average of 13 deaths a day.  However, independent labour groups put the death toll to as high as 20,000 miners annually, as colliery operators tend to cover up accidents to avoid costly shutdowns and fines. The Party has attempted to stop this massacre, but upon till now its anti-exploitation laws have been completely ignored.