A blaze at a coal mine in Central China's Hunan Province has killed seven miners. 43 workers managed to escape from the shaft at the Lisheng mine in Xiangtan. At least 27 others remain trapped.

Rescue workers were dispatched to the mine after the fire broke out at 2 pm Tuesday. Fifty rescuers battled in heavy rain to put out the fire, and reopened the ventilation system. They are continuing to search for other trapped miners.

An initial investigation shows electric cables caught fire first with flames spreading to other parts of the shaft.