(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-25 16:25

TAIYUAN  -- At least seven people have been trapped following a coal mine flood in the coal-rich northern province of Shanxi, the local work safety administration said on Monday.

The flood occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Sunday at the Donghe Coal Mine and initially trapped eight miners, an official with the administration said. One miner was rescued but at least seven others were still trapped.

The total number of miners working underground when the flood struck remained to be confirmed.

Rescuers are working to save the trapped miners and local coal mine officials are investigating the cause of the accident.

The mine, owned by the Taiyuan Coal Gasification (Group) Corporation, Ltd, a state-owned company, is located in Tailin township in Puxian County, Linfen in southwest Shanxi. Its annual capacity is 660,000 tons.