FUZHOU - Nine people are still trapped after they broke into an unlicensed coal mine on Saturday in Longyan city in east China's Fujian Province, local authorities announced on Sunday morning.

Twelve workers broke into an abandoned and unlicensed coal mine in Wendong village in the city's Yongding district without permission on Saturday morning, three of them came out of the mine at about 1 p.m. and called the police as of 9:40 p.m. after the rest of their fellow workers failed to emerge from the mine.

The cause of the accident is unclear.

Rescue work and investigation is underway.