KUNMING - Eight miners were missing in a colliery accident on Friday in Southwest China's Yunnan province, local government said.

The accident happened around 2 p.m. at the Liangshuigou Coal Mine in Muzhuo Township of Zhenxiong County, ?said a spokesman with the county government.

Rescuers on the scene suspected a gas blast in the mine.

Operation of the coal mine has not resumed after the Spring Festival, but the mine manager organized 20 miners to work in the mine without any safety check. Twelve of them had been lifted out of the mine before the accident happened.

The manager of the colliery has been in police custody, and rescue and investigation work is under way.