Five miners are trapped following a water inrush accident at a coal mine in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province on December 21, state media CCTV reported.

The incident occurred at about 4:30 a.m. at the Datonggou coal mine, operated by Heilongjiang Fengyuan Mining Co., Ltd., in Jixi city.

Rescue efforts are currently underway. Authorities in Jixi's Didao district have established a joint rescue command center immediately after the accident to coordinate emergency operations.

This is not the first safety issue identified at the mine. In late May 2025, the provincial mine safety bureau uncovered three major potential accident hazards during a safety inspection. These included insufficient safety investment, production exceeding approved limits, and the use of obsolete equipment. Consequently, the mine was ordered to suspend production for three days starting June 6, 2025.

The mine was permitted to resume operations on June 10, 2025 following a review by relevant authorities.