A coal mine flood in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region early Monday trapped 44 people in the pit, safety authorities confirmed.

The accident happened at 7:29 AM at Luotuoshan Coal Mine in Wuhai City, the State Administration of Work Safety said on its website.

The place is about 600 kilometers from the regional capital Hohhot.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2010)