The death toll in the flooded Wangjialing Coal Mine in north China's Shanxi Province rose to 14 Thursday, while another 24 trapped miners were still missing, the rescue headquarters said.

Two more bodies were recovered Thursday morning from a shaft where the water level had dropped by 300 meters.

Rescue work in another shaft close to a disused mine was suspended due to flooding risks. Hundreds of rescuers were forced to retreat when the shaft ceiling began to leak Thursday morning, said Liu Dezheng, spokesman of the headquarters.

Rescuers believed the disused mine full of water had caused the initial flood when broken into by workers.

"Pumps are not effective as the submerged area is like a huge swamp. Oxygen in the mine is low, although the gas level is safe," Liu said.

A total of 153 miners were working below ground when the mine flooded on March 28. A total of 115 miners were brought out of the mine alive Monday after being trapped for more than a week.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2010)