Seven miners were confirmed dead and one was missing in a flooded colliery in north China's Shanxi Province, local authorities said on Sunday.

The flooding occurred in Yutian Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Ningwu County at about 11:00 PM on Friday when 14 miners were working underground, according to the provincial work safety watchdog.

Five managed to escape on their own. Another one was rescued and then sent to a local hospital, officials said.

The mine is a licensed one with an annual production capacity of 150,000 tons, local authorities said.

Rescuers are continuing to search for the missing.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2008)