The death toll from a flooded colliery in northeast China has risen to eight after rescuers found the body of the last missing miner, the rescue headquarters said on Monday.

The last body was recovered around 4:00 AM Monday at Ping'an Coal Mine in the city of Fuxin, Liaoning Province, said Gao Minhui, a member of the rescue headquarters.

The flooding occurred Thursday afternoon when ten miners were working underground. Two managed to escape, but eight others were trapped.

Rescue operations went slowly at first due to complicated situation underground.

The coal mine has been ordered to stop production for investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2006)