Eighteen miners were trapped in a flooded coal mine pit in southwest China's Guizhou Province, confirmed local authorities on Sunday.

The accident occurred at 11 PM Saturday in the Pianpoyuan Coal Mine, Ziyun Miao Buyi Autonomous County of Guizhou.

Officials with provincial government and the coal mine safety bureau hurried to the spot and rescue work is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006)