Two people are dead and four are missing after a coal mine accident in central China's Hunan Province on Wednesday, rescuers said.

The accident, said to be a "coal and gas outburst" by rescuers, happened at the Xinwansan Coal Mine in Anping Town, Lianyuan City, at about 3:30 AM, when 10 miners were working underground.

Four workers managed to escape and rescuers are still searching for the four missing.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2007)