A tunnel collapse at a coal mine in east China's Anhui Province, trapped eight miners who were working underground on Tuesday.

Earlier reports said seven miners were trapped but it has been confirmed that another miner who did not register before going underground is also trapped.

The accident occurred at 7:45 AM on Tuesday at Xieqiao Coal Mine located at the Yingshang County, Fuyang City. It belongs to the Huainan Mining Group.

The coal mine went into operation in 1997 with an annual output capacity of 7 million tons.

More than 20 rescuers are struggling underground to reach the trapped miners, Dong Xuebing, head of the rescue team, told Xinhua as he returned above ground from the 400-meter-deep tunnel.

Meanwhile, more than 10 other rescuers and two ambulances are standing by at the entrance of the mine waiting for the next move.

The collapsed section is about 36 meters away from where the trapped miners were working, leaving a relatively large space for the trapped people, Dong said.

The gas monitoring system and ventilation system are operating normally, so the trapped miners stand a good chance surviving, he said.

But the rock formation above the collapsed section is leaking water from three places making rescue work difficult, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2006)