The provincial coal mine safety supervision department said last night's accident, in Yongji Coal Mine in Shangrao County caused a section of the shaft to collapse.
Rescuers are still trying to reach the trapped miners, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Initial enquiries show that the mine's safety license expired on January 9 and was still being renewed at present, said Shangguan Qing, head of the county's coal mine administration bureau, adding that the coal mine is suspected of illegal mining.