LUXI - Search and rescue efforts for seven people?who have been trapped since Monday following a coal mine accident in Southwest China's Yunnan province are continuing, local authorities said late Tuesday.

Four teams of rescuers took turns attempting to reach the trapped people at a coal mine in Luxi county. As of 7:00 pm, a 5-meter-long path had been cleared in the caved-in shaft, and rescuers are searching for the trapped with the help of a life-detection instrument, according to the county government.

A total of 10 people, including the coal mine's manager, a safety inspector and eight workers, were trapped when a coal mine shaft caved in on Monday afternoon at the coal mine, a government spokesman said.

Three people had been rescued as of 9 am Tuesday, the spokesman said.

The 10 people were inspecting the mine's ventilation facilities when the accident occurred, he said.

The mine is owned by Yunnan Dongyuan Luxi Coal Mine Industry Co., Ltd., he said.