A coal mine in east China's Shandong Province was flooded by surface water yesterday afternoon, leaving 172 people missing by 3am today.

The flooding occurred at about 2:30pm yesterday in the Zhangzhuang mine run by Huayuan Co, Ltd. which is located in Xintai City in the central part of the province.

"There were 756 miners working under the ground when the accident occurred. By 8:55pm yesterday, 584 miners have been rescued." said Zhang Dekuan, deputy secretary-general of the provincial government, who is at the site.

Shandong's Communist Party chief Li Jianguo, acting governor Jiang Daming and other senior officials had arrived at the site to coordinate the rescue work.

The provincial government has established a rescue headquarter at the site headed by Jiang Daming. The rescuers have been divided into nine groups responsible for ventilation, water drainage and other tasks.

By the press time, heavy rain is still pouring down at the site.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.