Seven Chinese coal miners were trapped in a flooded illegal mine in eastern Jiangxi province Saturday, state media said.

The flooding occurred Saturday morning at the mine in Leping City, Yongshan Township, Xinhua news agency said. By Saturday night only two miners had been rescued, it said.

Safety at China's mines is often sacrificed as mine owners pursue profits at any cost to meet a rising demand for coal to fuel China's economic growth.

Official figures show that more than 6,000 miners died in accidents in China last year, although independent estimates say the real figure could be as high as 20,000.

Source: Asia News 20 June 2005