Xi'an (China), Jan 13 (TIWN / IANS) Nineteen miners were killed while another two remained trapped underground after a roof collapse happened in a coal mine in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, according to local authorities.

The accident happened around 4:30 p.m. local time on Saturday at the Lijiagou coal mine of the Baiji Mining Co., Ltd. in the city of Shenmu, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. 

At that time, 87 people were working underground. Sixty-six of them were lifted to safety after the accident.

The search for the last two trapped miners continued. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.