Hopes of finding survivors among the at least 123 miners trapped in the flooded coal mine in Xingning, South China's Guangdong Province, are almost zero after the recovery of a first body Wednesday morning.

Police are trying to identify the victim through DNA testing.

Experts said hopes of finding any of the remaining miners alive were almost nil after more than four days trapped in the flooded shaft.

By Wednesday evening, family members of 99 trapped workers had arrived at the site.

The State Council announced Wednesday that a national investigation team had been set up to look into the cause of the accident.

The Guangdong provincial government said two local officials, Meizhou Mayor He Zhengba, and Xingning Mayor Zeng Xianghai, had been removed from their posts.

The two officials reportedly failed to properly supervise the mine, which was being run illegally with no production or safety licences.

Disciplinary action was also taken against two other officials for dereliction of duty.

Shi Quan, of Luogang township Party committee, and Zeng Xianji, of Xingning City Coal Industry Bureau, were found to have failed to promptly and accurately report the rising water level in the mineshaft.

Local police also detained 11 people believed to bear responsibility for the accident.

Those arrested include the owner, manager, board chairman and chief technician of the coal mine, who all initially fled after the accident.

Despite receding hopes of finding survivors, the headquarters in charge of the rescue has urged all rescuers to fulfil their duties.

Source: China Daily