Seven miners were confirmed dead and one was missing in a flooded colliery in north China's Shanxi Province, local authorities said on Sunday.

The flooding occurred in Yutian Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Ningwu County at about 11 p.m. Friday when 14 miners were working underground, according to the provincial work safety watchdog.

Five managed to escape on their own. Another one was rescued and then sent to a local hospital, officials said.

The mine is a licensed one with an annual production capacity of 150,000 tons, local authorities said.

Rescuers are continuing to search for the missing.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2008)