JINAN - Nine people were killed and one person remain missing after a coal mine was flooded Thursday in Zhangqiu in East China's Shandong province, local authorities confirmed Saturday.

According to reports from locals on Friday, a coal mine flood occurred around 9 am Thursday at a mining site allegedly under illegal operation in the city of Zhangqiu, said the press office with the Jinan municipal government, which administers Zhangqiu.

Rescuers have been sent to the accident site and the colliery owner and others involved in the accident have been detained.

Further investigations into the accident is underway.