The rescue headquarters announced here Friday that the search for 17 miners trapped underground by flooding nearly a month ago in Shandan County, northwest China's Gansu Province, has been called off.

The decision was made due to the complicated conditions underground, rescuers said, adding that the act had won approval from higher authorities.

"We can't risk the rescuers' lives given the complicated circumstances inside the mine," said a spokesman for the rescue headquarters. "We have to be very careful not to cause any unnecessary new casualties among the rescuers."

"Thus rescue experts call off all the relief efforts," he explained.

The bodies of the 17 miners were thus buried forever inside theWutao Coal Mine.

The local government has decided to perpetually seal off the mine and erect a stele at the mouth of mine to caution later generations.

The mine was flooded at noon on May 23, with 29 workers trappedin the pit. However, 12 of them managed to escape.

Source: Xinhua