Death toll rises to 9 in NE China mine collapse

The bodies of five miners have been removed from a mine that collapsed last Sunday in northeast China's Liaoning province, bringing the death toll to nine, local authorities said Wednesday.

Twelve miners were working in a newly-dug shaft in the Qingshui No. 2 Mine, located in the provincial capital of Shenyang, when the shaft's roof collapsed at 11 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release issued by the provincial coal mine safety supervisory bureau.

The mine belongs to Shenyang Coking Coal Limited Liability Company (SCC), a subsidiary of the state-owned Shenyang Coal Trade Group Corporation.

Wei Gang, deputy general manager of SCC, said a total of 13.5 meters of roofing collapsed in the shaft.

Four miners died at the scene and another three were pulled out of the mine, according to an emergency headquarters set up to handle the incident.

The Shenyang Coal Trade Group Corporation has set up groups to handle compensation for the dead miners' families.