HOHHOT - Rescuers are still trying to locate six miners trapped underground after a coal mine flooded in Inner Mongolia autonomous region four days ago.

A life detector has been moved into the shaft, but due to too much silt, it hasn't been put into operation, said Kong Qingwen, head of the coal administrative bureau of Wuhai city, where the accident happened last Friday.

"Rescue work is progressing slowly," said Wang Rongguo, spokesman of the rescue command headquarters.

Much silt has been cleared away, but the tunnel is narrow and low which was complicating the rescue effort, he said.

The flooding occurred at about 4:30 pm Friday at the Lasengzhong Changfu Coal Mine in Wuhai city.

At the time of the flooding, eight miners were working about 300 meters underground. Two managed to escape unscathed.

Police have arrested the mine's legal representative and owner for suspected cover-ups.