HARBIN - Five people were trapped underground after a coal mine was flooded early Sunday in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, local authorities said.

The flooding occurred at about 4:30 am on Sunday at the Datonggou coal mine of Heilongjiang Fengyuan Mining Co., Ltd. in the city of Jixi, the Jixi publicity department said.

Local authorities have set up a joint rescue headquarters, and the rescue operation is underway.