China coal fine flood. 16 Traps inside

Sixteen coal miners have been trapped in a flooded coal mine in central China's Hunan Province, local authorities report. The latest incident in China’s industry occurred after the colliery in Leiyang's Sandu township in Hunan Province flooded Wednesday evening.

The cause of the flood was not immediately known and none of the miners have been rescued yet but rescue efforts are ongoing.

Accidents in China's mines occur frequently.

This comes as three railway workers remain trapped in a tunnel that collapsed on Saturday in Hunan Province.

Rescuers have gotten in touch with the workers in the five days they have been trapped underground. Food and water have been sent through ventilation tubing.

China's mining industry is notorious for its lack of safety measures and high number of fatalities.

Latest figures show that 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in China in 2010-- a rate of more than six workers per day.

But independent labor groups say the figure could be much higher as accidents are ‘covered up’ to prevent mine closures.

The Chinese government has shut down hundreds of mines as part of efforts to improve safety standards.

Press TV