Coal mine flooding traps 5 in China

TAIYUAN -- Five people have been trapped after a coal mine was flooded early Wednesday in North China's Shanxi province, authorities said.

The accident happened at 2:50 am in a coal mine shaft in Pinglu district in the city of Shuozhou, where 91 miners were working underground. Among them, 86 were lifted out of the shaft, according to the publicity department of the city's Party committee.

The mine is operated by a local company, Maohua Wantongyuan Coal Mining Co. Ltd.

Rescue work is underway and the cause of the case is being investigated.