TAIYUAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Eight people have been confirmed dead, and 38 remain trapped underground after a coal mine accident in Qinyuan County, north China's Shanxi Province, on Friday night, local emergency management authority said Saturday.

A gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in the county at 7:29 p.m. on Friday, with 247 workers on duty underground.

As of 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, 201 survivors had been brought to the surface safely, and eight others were confirmed dead. Rescue efforts were still underway.

The cause of the accident is under further investigation.