The flood occurred at 7.10pm at the mine operated by Duong Huy Coal Company. 24-year-old worker Pham Van Dan from Hung Yen Province was trapped at a depth of 50 metres. Other workers luckily escaped the mine in time.

Le Viet Su, chief inspector of Quang Ninh Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said rescuers were immediately sent to the scene. 

However, due to bad weather, water constantly flooded into the mine, hindering the rescue mission.

At 10 am Wednesday, the water was controlled and rescuers are pumping out water to dig way to the trapped worker. However, it is feared that he is unlikely to have survived.

"It's likely that Dan already died," said Nguyen Hai Phi, chief of Duong Huy Coal Company's office.

Nguyen Ngoc Lan, chief of the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation's office, mother company of Duong Huy Coal Company, confirmed that one worker was trapped from the coal mine flood and the certainty of death was very high. 

The National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation is working with local authorities to rescue the worker.

Heavy rains which have been falling in Quang Ninh Province in the past days is likely to be the cause of the incident.

dtinews