Twelve miners have been trapped in a coal mine in central China's Henan Province after a gas outburst on Monday morning, sources said.

The outburst occurred at about 3:00 AM when 24 miners were working underground in the mine in Pingdingshan City. Twelve miners have managed to escape, said the sources with the Pingdingshan Coal Co., Ltd.

Rescue work is under way. Shi Jichun, vice governor of Henan, has rushed to the mine to guide rescue operations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2007)