Officials have abandoned efforts to retrieve the bodies of 172 coal miners from a flooded mine in eastern China, family members said today, deepening their anger at what they see as callous treatment by the government and mining company.

Floodwaters caused by heavy rains poured into two coal mines in a town in eastern China, leaving 181 miners trapped and feared dead, government officials said today.

A deputy mayor is among 30 people who have been punished for their roles in the collapse of a mine in northern China which killed 33 people, state media said today.