A colliery flooding left five miners dead Wednesday in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The flood occurred at 11:30 a.m. in the private Yakou coal mine, Fuyuan County, Qujing City, as eight miners were working underground, said the Qujing coal administration bureau.

Three managed to escape, while another five were trapped. Rescuers retrieved their bodies at 2:50 p.m.

Police have detained the mine owner. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2009)