Twelve miners were reported missing in a coal mine flooding accident that happened Sunday in Xinmi city, central China's Henan Province, said the local source.

The accident occurred at 4:32 pm when the heading face of Zhengzhou Coal Industrial Corporation's Chaohua colliery was suddenly flooded.

Li Guo'an, board chairman of the corporation, rushed to the place evacuating the working miners, together with local government officials.

Till 8:50 pm Sunday, the majority of the miners were evacuated from the flooded coal mine, but 12 were still missing.

The rescue squad had gone into the colliery, said the source, and by 6:28 am Monday, no casualty was reported.

The cause of the accident is under further investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2004)