Twenty-one miners were trapped after a coal mine flooded in central China's Henan Province. It was the third major mine accident in China on Wednesday.

A rescue operation began after Mazhuang colliery, in Jiyuan city, flooded at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, when 28 miners, of whom seven escaped, were working below ground.

The licensed mine has an annual production capacity of 150,000 tonnes.

The accident brings the number of miners trapped in three separate coal mine accidents to 57.

Rescuers are working to free seven miners trapped in another mine flood in Shanxi Province, while 29 miners are believed to be trapped after a gas explosion in a pit in neighboring Shaanxi Province.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2008)