ZHENGZHOU - Four miners who went missing following a coal mine flood in Central China's Henan province have been confirmed dead, bringing the death toll for the April 14 flood to nine, rescuers said Wednesday.

A total of 53 miners were working in the mine in the city of Pingdingshan when it flooded. Forty-two of them managed to escape on their own, while two others were pulled out after rescuers pumped water out of the mine, according to the local rescue headquarters.

The bodies of five miners were found shortly after the flood, leaving four miners unaccounted for. After finding their bodies on Wednesday, rescuers wrapped up their rescue efforts to make way for a subsequent investigation into the accident.

A preliminary investigation showed that the flooding was caused by seepage from a disused mining pit adjacent to the mine.

The mine is owned by the Yulongyuantong Coal Mining Co., which was taken over by Henan Coalbed Methane Development Co. Ltd., in January this year.