Four miners were trapped underground in central China's Hubei Province Friday morning after rainwater and silt flooded into the mine, local authorities said.

The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. in Xiaojiacun Coal Mine, Xianning City when 3,000 cubic meters of rainwater and silt from a nearby solution cavity flooded into the mine, a municipal work safety official said.

A total of 21 miners were under the well when the accident happened, of whom 17 were saved. Rescuers are still trying to save the four trapped, he said.

The Xiaojiashan mine is a newly-built mine and belongs to the foreign-owned Xianning Puqi Mining Co. Ltd.

The rain has hit the mine for 12 consecutive days before the accident happened.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2009)