One person has been confirmed dead and 23 others trapped in a coal mine accident in the city of Datong in north China's Shanxi Province at noon Wednesday, according to the provincial work safety supervision administration.

The administration declined to define the exact nature of the accident but an official with the administration, who refused to give his name, said the accident occurred at the Danangou Coal Mine and originally trapped 34 miners.

Rescuers saved 11 miners but one of them died in hospital, said the official.

Further rescue operations are continuing and an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. 

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2006)