Rescuers at a mine in southern China have been offered two million yuan ($US300,000) for each worker they pull out alive from a colliery that collapsed last weekend.
Heavy rains have hampered efforts to reach 19 workers trapped underground in the coal mine in Heshan city in Guangxi region, AFP reports.
Rescuers have already retrieved three bodies from the scene, and the report says the victims' families have signed compensation deals with the mining company, expected to be $US92,000.
Meanwhile, at least 28 people are still trapped in another coal mine in the eastern province of Shandong, after a fire broke out underground.
In the south-western province of Guizhou, rescuers are still battling to save 23 miners trapped in another coal shaft that flooded on Saturday.
