Sixteen workers were trapped in a flooded coal mine Saturday in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local authorities said.

The accident occurred at about 5 a.m. when 22 miners were working in Xingnong Township, Jixi City. Six escaped and 16 others were still missing as of Saturday noon, according to the information office of Jixi city government.

Rescue work and an investigation into the cause of the flood are underway.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2009)