The owner and manager of a flooded coal mine in central China's Hunan Province, where 13 workers have been trapped since Saturday, have been arrested, authorities said Tuesday.

Police on Monday arrested Liu Wucheng, owner of the Sanjiaotang township mine in Changning City, Hunan, and manager Li Guiya in Guiyang County, Hunan, authorities in Changning said.

The flood occurred at about 5 p.m. Saturday, but the owner and the manager fled the scene without reporting the accident to local authorities.

Although rescue work continues, the chances of survival are slim as it has been more than 72 hours since the accident.

Peng Qingchun and Liao Lunsheng, shareholders of the mine, have been detained.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2009)