Six miners have confirmed dead and four others missing following a gypsum mine collapse in central China's Hunan Province.

The accident occurred at 6:30 PM on Saturday when a large part of the Tiande Gypsum Mine in Shimen County collapsed while 18 miners were working underground.

Eight people were rescued, of whom three were injured and hurried to a nearby hospital. They are reported to be in stable conditions.

Two rescue teams dispatched by governments of Hunan and Changde City raced to the scene and, together with over 100 local people, are still searching for the missing four.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2006)