CHANGSHA: Twenty-seven miners are trapped after a coal mine fire in central China's Hunan province Tuesday, a local government official said.

The fire broke out at Lisheng Coal Mine in Tanjiashan town, Xiangtan county of Xiangtan city, at 2 pm, the official with the county government said.

Rescuers have begun searching for the miners, who could still be alive.

The cause is still under investigation.