A coal mine under construction in the city of Wuhai was flooded on Monday. State run media reports that one person is dead with several dozen trapped.

Sources say that 77 miners were digging tunnels when the waters gushed in.

Construction of the Luotuoshan Coal Mine began in 2006. The mine is owned by Wuhai Energy Co. Ltd., whose parent company, Shenhua Group Corp. Ltd., is one of China's major mining firms.

Strong demand for resources and lax safety standards have made China's mines the most dangerous in the world.

More than 100 people died in a gas blast at a mine in Heilongjiang Province last November.