The death toll from a rock burst at a coal mine in east China's Shandong Province has risen to eight, as five more miners were found dead Thursday, local authorities said.

Two bodies were retrieved underground early Thursday morning and the other three were found in the afternoon, according to the rescue headquarters.

The accident happened at around 11 p.m. Saturday at Longyun Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Yuncheng County and left a total of 22 people trapped in the tunnel after coal fell at both ends from the rock burst.

Only one person has been rescued. Thirteen miners are still trapped and rescuers are racing against the clock to locate them from two rescue passages.

Rock bursts are often caused by fractures in rocks due to wear and tear from mining.

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