Thirty-nine people were confirmed dead with another three still missing in a colliery flooding accident that occurred on Dec. 2 in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, the local rescue team said on Saturday morning.

The remains of 39 miners had been retrieved and rescue operation is still going on.

The flooding accident happened when 76 miners changed shifts at night of Dec. 2 at an unlicensed private coal mine in Shisi Town of Xin'an County. After the accident, 34 miners escaped and the remaining 42 were trapped underground.

The rescue team said most of the victims were natives of the town.

Ten officials of the mine, who were found to be responsible for the accident, have been detained and they would face stern punishment.

The coal mine has a designed annual production capacity of 60,000 tons.

Source: Xinhua