All collieries of Zhangye City, west China's Gansu Province, had stopped operation for safety inspection after a coal mine flooding Sunday, said mayor Tian Baozhong Tuesday.

Wutao colliery of Shandan County was flooded Sunday noon and 17miners were trapped under ground.

To guarantee the safety of miners and avoid the recurrence of the tragedy, Tian ordered Monday that all the coal mines of Zhangye stop production to receive the inspection of the municipal department of work safety supervision.

Tian said rescue operation was stepped up at Wutao mine to search for the missing miners.

Source: Xinhua