Chinese miner found after 17 days

A miner who was buried underground for 17 days following a colliery flood in northeast China has been found alive, state media said.

The survivor was in a stable condition after receiving treatment in a local hospital, the Xinhua news agency said, quoting rescuers.

Twenty-eight miners were working underground at the Junyuan No 2 Coal Mine in Hegang city, Heilongjiang Province, when it flooded on May 2.

Ten escaped, 10 others were confirmed dead and five have now been rescued.

Authorities are still searching for three more missing, the report said.

Nearly 2000 miners were killed last year in mines in China, according to official figures.

China's mines are known for being among the world's most deadly due to lax regulation, corruption and inefficiency, and accidents are common as safety is often neglected by bosses seeking quick profits.

Rapid economic growth has caused China's demand for energy, including coal, to surge. The world's second-biggest economy is the top global consumer of coal.