Two miners were confirmed dead and five others remain missing after a central China coal mine flood Monday afternoon, local authorities said Tuesday.

The coal mine, located in Sandu Township of Leiyang City in central China's Hunan Province, is privately run.

Nine people were initially trapped when Duxing Coal Mine flooded around 2:20 p.m. Monday. Two miners managed to escape.

Zhou Gezhong, chief engineer with the provincial Bureau of Coal Mine Safety, said a provincial government safety work group had been sent to help the local government with the rescue.

The reason for the accident is under investigation.