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Six of 22 workers were reportedly able to escape the Furuixiang coal mine Qitaihe City when disaster struck late Saturday evening.
Local government sources reported that two men were recovered alive and rushed to hospital Sunday.
Official state media outlet Xinhua said rescue efforts were ongoing at the mine site, with the laying of conduits and pumping facilities to remove water from the shaft.
Four pumps already in action are expected to take 10 hours to empty the pit.
Qitaihe is an important coking coal region within China’s northeast, with 400 million tons of coal and coke reserves.
