Water levels are high in the areas where the trapped miners are, according to the AFP, which has correspondents in Xiangning.

The 115 rescued miners survived for eight days underground.

Various news reports suggest some of the miners resorted to eating saw dust, coal lumps and tree bark, while others suggest miners drank the murky water or their own urine to stay alive.

Some miners reportedly used their belts to hang from the shaft walls so they did not fall into the water while sleeping.

On March 28 there were 261 people underground at the mine, which was under construction, when workers digging a tunnel broke into an abandoned shaft filled with water, flooding the colliery.

Right after the accident 108 workers were lifted to the surface.

Rescuers steadily removed water each day using at least six pumps and holes have been drilled from the surface to provide more air underground.