In central China's Hunan province, rescuers are continuing their efforts to reach 16 miners trapped in their flooded shaft since Thursday afternoon.

According to the emergency rescue headquarters in Leiyang city, rescuers have successfully removed three boulders that were blocking a major passageway. But they have yet to find the miners. At the time of the flooding, 40 people were working in the pit and 24 managed to escape. 4 teams of rescuers were sent to the scene and have successfully pumped the shaft dry and resumed ventilation.

Officials say managers of the mine failed to report the accident immediately after the accident and the rescue operation was delayed by almost 12 hours.