Five people died and one is missing in a coal mine accident in southwest China's Guizhou Province, sources with the local government said Tuesday.

The accident happened at 10 a.m. Monday in privately owned Changjiang coal mine in Qianxi County, the sources said.

Thirty-four miners were working underground when the accident occurred and 26 of them fled the mine by themselves, another two rescued alive later, the sources said.

Rescuers are trying to retrieve the missing miner.

Safety authorities are probing into the cause of the accident and initial investigation showed that the accident was caused by gas leak.