The death toll from a flooded coal mine in northwest China's Gansu Province has risen to eight after rescuers recovered four more bodies late Wednesday and early Thursday.

Five miners were still trapped at the Jijitaizi Coal Mine, in Jinta County of Jiuquan City, a rescue operations spokesman said.

The latest victims were Xu Risheng and Yu Xiang, from Gulang county, Li Yonghai, from Yongdeng county, and Ding Quancheng, from Liangzhou prefecture.

The flooding occurred at 11:30 a.m. Sunday when 16 miners were working underground. Three managed to escape and 13 were trapped.

The first two bodies were recovered late Monday, and two more were retrieved late Tuesday.

Rescue work is continuing.