Five dead, eight missing in mine accident

BEIJING, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Chinese authorities say eight miners are missing and five others confirmed dead after water flooded a coal shaft in Guizhou Province.

Rescue teams continued to search Monday, though the shaft remained partially flooded, in danger of collapse and contained poisonous gas, reported Xinhua, China's state-run news agency.

The Baiyanglin mine, which flooded New Year's Eve, was operating illegally with no work-safety permit and an expired production permit, Xinhua reported, noting local authorities ordered the mine closed last year.