XIN'AN, Henan, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Rescuers still have not found the 42 miners trapped in a colliery flood in central China's Henan Province though the water in the shafts were almost pumped out, the emergency rescue headquarters said on Monday.

    By 4 p.m. Monday, rescuers had pumped more than 80,000 cubic meters of water out of the mine and six blocks along the nearby 500-meter river bank had been built to prevent river water from flowing into the ill-fated Sigou Coal Mine in Xin'an County.

    In addition, to provide enough oxygen to the possible survivors, rescuers drilled holes leading to the drowned laneway where the trapped miners might stay, according to the headquarters.

    "Rescuers are ready to get down to clearing the tunnels, which may take several days as the poky tunnels were blocked with silt and tramcars," said an official with the headquarters who declined to give his name.

    The colliery flood occurred at about 11:40 p.m. on De. 2, when 76 miners were working in the pit. Only 34 of them escaped.

    Sigou colliery is privately owned and unlicensed. Its designed annual output is 60,000 tons.

    Ten officials of the mine responsible for the accident have been detained and they would face stern punishment, said the official. Enditem