Rescuers are racing to pump water from a flooded coal mine in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, as 22 trapped miners remain missing, local authorities said Monday.

As of 7 pm, "the 22 miners were still out of contact" though the water level in the shaft is dropping, said Zhang Lei, deputy head of the rescue headquarters. Flooding hit the Xiahaizi mine in Qujing at about 4:50 am Monday, when 26 workers were working underground. Four were rescued Monday morning.

Medical teams are standing by, and a medical station has been set up to provide care.