A gold mine that had been shut downsince 2004 collapsed and trapped four people in the Pinggu District in eastern Beijing, authorities said Tuesday night.

Wang Junwang and three other people went into the gold mine forillegal mining Monday night, sources with the Beijing municipal government said.

However, it was not known when the collapse happened.

The four people are villagers of the Heishuiwan Village of the Jinhaihu Township, the sources said.

Rescuers have arrived at the scene for rescue operation.