The death toll of Friday's coal mine flooding in Hunan Province has risen to nine and eight other miners still remain missing, rescuers said Tuesday.

Water from the Guida Coal Mine, which was flooded by heavy rain Friday, gushed into the neighboring Shihuiyao Coal Mine in Heye Township, Guiyang County of Chenzhou City, stranding 17 miners underground, according to the local coal mine safety supervision authorities.

More than 30 rescuers are working underground by turns to search for the missing miners, but the chances of survival are slim, said Hao Quwu, deputy director for the rescue work.

Hao said there are two areas that rescuers have not reached, but the two areas are both filled with silt.

Both Guida and Shihuiyao are unqualified coal producers, the coal mine safety authorities said.

Managers of the two mines are under police control.

Source: Xinhua