GUIYANG -- Five people died and two were missing after a coal mine in Southwest China's Guizhou province was flooded early Wednesday, local authorities said.

The accident occurred at about 1 am when water from a nearby abandoned mine shaft flooded the Tiedingyan Coal Mine in Zheng'an county, the county publicity department said in a press release.

The county has been lashed by heavy rains during the past few days, it added.

Eight of 15 safety inspectors who were then underground checking for potential safety hazards during the raining season managed to escape. Five were killed and two were missing.

The rescue operation is under way.