The 181 workers who have been trapped in two flooded coal mines in eastern China for almost a week have no hope of surviving, a high-ranking official said today.
The Vice Governor of the Shandong province, Huang Sheng made the remarks, but added that water was still being pumped out of two the mining pits.
The mining accidents occurred in Shandong on Friday last week, when a river burst its banks sending water into two pits 10km apart.
Over 750 miners were underground when the water swept into the Zhangzhuang mine.
Although many managed to escape, 172 were trapped and have not been heard from since. In the other accident, nine people were trapped at the Minggong coal mine.
Chinese coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world. About 1,800 coal miners died in accidents during the first half of this year.
