The fatal accident took place yesterday when four workers were trapped in an under construction manganese mine, while conducting examination work underground, an official at the Lingling District government, Yongzhou City said.
Four others tried to rescue them but were trapped too.
All the eight were pulled out of the mine yesterday afternoon. One was rescued, the other seven died despite doctors' efforts, state run Xinhua news agency reported.
The survivor is in a stable condition in hospital.
