Following days of pumping water levels in a flooded coal mine in north China where 57 miners are thought to be trapped underground have started to fall, rescuers said Tuesday.

By 6 PM Tuesday approximately 4,600 cubic meters of water had been pumped out of the mine and water levels had started to fall, said Wang Zhonghu, a rescuer in charge of installing the pumps. More such machines are being brought in to speed up the operation.

The flooding occurred at 8:30 PM last Thursday at Xinjing Coal Mine in Zuoyun County, northern Shanxi. Latest information indicates that 57 miners remain trapped underground while 101 escaped to safety.

So far eight mine employees suspected of being responsible for the flooding have been detained, police said. They're still searching for a number of other mine personnel who may have been involved. 

Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, blamed excessive production and poor management at the mine for the flooding.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2006)