At least two people have lost their lives after becoming trapped in a flooded mine in Heilongjiang Province on Wednesday. Rescuers are currently attempting to reach 13 other miners in the shaft, according to state media.

On Monday, the National Meteorological Center issued a yellow rainstorm alert for many parts of the country. Meteorologists warned of heavy rains and locals have reported flooding in several areas. The Weather Channel also reported on extreme flooding in China recently. Experts say the flooding of the mine is likely to have been precipitated by the heavy downpour.

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According to Xinhua, the spokesperson for the rescuers, Wang Kuiyuan, has explained that the mine flooding was triggered by "mud-rock flow." Mudslides are thought to be extremely dangerous, particularly in closed places like mines, where there may be lots of sloping surfaces.

Nonetheless, Wang says the 13 people trapped in the mine are "likely" to survive because there is a room in the underground tunnel. Rescuers are still trying to pinpoint the exact location of the miners and provide them with oxygen and other much needed supplies.

Whatever the outcome of the ongoing rescue effort may be, it is likely to have an effect on China's coal consumption. At the moment, China continues to be the world largest user of coal. However, the country's dependence on coal has been dropping rapidly this year as authorities increase China's share of clean energy sources. A recent study noted that if China can successfully peak its coal emissions by 2020, it would prevent thousands of deaths and illnesses caused by coal burning emissions.

According to Wang, mining had actually been suspended at the site of the accident. The miners were reportedly conducting maintenance work when it became flooded.

Thousands of people are killed in mining accidents in China every year. In 2014, the number of deaths from mining accidents was less than a thousand for the first time in over a decade.

A large percentage China's mining accidents reportedly occur in dangerous, illegal mining sites. Authorities have stepped up efforts to stamp out illegal mining and increase safety measures at mining sites. This is the second major mining accident in the country this year. In April, more than 20 miners died after becoming trapped in a mine in Shanxi Province. More than 200 people are reported to have been working in the mine when it was flooded by water from a reservoir, but many of them managed to escape the disaster.

Tags15 Miners Trapped Underground in Northeast China, China coal mine accident, China Mine Accident, China coal, China Mining