Nineteen miners have been stranded in two flooded mines in central China's Henan Province since last Saturday, said an official with the Henan Administration of Work Safety on Monday.

One accident occurred at 5:45 p.m. Saturday in the Anyang County of Henan, where eleven miners in an iron mine were besieged as flood triggered by torrential rain poured into their shaft and cut off electricity.

The iron mine, without operation license, had been ordered to stop operation by local administration for work safety in past Mayand locked in July, but the mine owner forced in and resume production three days prior to the accident.

The other accident took place at 1 a.m. the same day, when eight miners were working underground in a private coal mine in the Nanzhao County.

The mine is also illegal and its owner is wanted by police.

Rescue work is underway in both mines by press time and officials with the provincial administration for work safety are having a meeting to discuss measures for improvement of work safety.

Editor: Donald