Seven people who may have been responsible for a coal mine flood that trapped 26 miners Tuesday have been detained in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to local police.

Miners prepare to enter a flooded coal pit to rescue trapped workers in a coal mine in Qitaihe city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, August 23, 2011. The pit was flooded while 45 miners were working in it.[Xinhua]

Those detained include the legal representative of the Hengtai Coal Mining Co., based in Boli County' of Qitaihe City, as well as the owner of the mine where the flood occurred, a spokesman from the city's public security bureau said Wednesday.

Rescuers have determined that the trapped miners may be located in one of four areas and are drilling holes through the earth to reach these areas in order to send air and water to the miners, said Deng Xiaoqiu, a production safety official from Boli County.

Efforts to drain water from the mine may take another few days, Deng said.

The flood occurred around midday Tuesday, when 45 miners were working underground in the pit. Nineteen of the miners managed to escape.

The mine was ordered by the provincial government to cease production in 2007. Without permission, however, the owner hired workers to restart production on August 16, according to Deng.

These workers mistakenly drilled into neighboring mines, causing water seepage that led to the flood, Deng said.

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