Seventeen miners were trapped in a coal mine in Meikou City of northeast Jilin Province after a flood accident on Friday, confirmed the provincial government here Saturday.

The accident took place at about 1:55 PM Friday and the rescue work is going on, said the government source.

A rescue expert team headed by Wang Shuhe, deputy director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, has arrived at the site.

Rescuers said the water and mud inside the mine increased the difficulty of rescue work.

The coal mine was run by the Zhonghe township with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2009)