Miners trapped in flood at China coal pit

BEIJING, Mar 19 (Reuters) One person has died and 27 others are trapped following a flood at a coal mine in northern China, the official Xinhua news agency said today.

Rescuers found the body yesterday but have no idea where the other missing miners are, the agency said in a short report.

Investigators said that the mine, located in Shanxi province, was operating with an expired safety licence, it added.

China has the world's deadliest mining industry. Colliery floods, blasts and other disasters killed nearly 6,000 miners across the country last year.

REUTERS DKS KN1443