Twenty-three coal miners have been trapped in a mine after a flooding accident in the Chinese province of Heilongjiang near the Russian border, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

In the early hours on Thursday, 24 miners were working in the Xinyongfeng Coal Mine in Jixi city when the flooding occurred. One miner managed to escape, however 23 were trapped inside the mine, the agency said.

Rescuers are working in the area. Authorities blamed heavy rains for the accident.

The coal industry in China is one of the most dangerous in the world with some 7,000 lives lost annually in accidents.
sections: Accidents