Ten miners were killed and 18 others were reported missing during a coal mine flooding, which took place in southwest China's Sichuan Province around 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The flooding occurred at an uphill driving face beneath the Longtan Coal Mine, which is situated at Xiaojing Township in Guang'an City, according to the Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Office.

The coal mine, which is administered by Guang'an Energy Group Co. Ltd. of Sichuan Provincial Coal Industry Corporation, was built in June 2003 with a designed annual production capacity of 550,000 tons.

By press time, rescue operation is going on.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency October 5, 2005)