A coal mine collapse trapped 12 miners in north China, the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Friday, the latest accident in an industry plagued by corruption and safety hazards.

The mine is in the coal-rich Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinhua said, without giving further details.

Coal mine accidents are common in China, where work safety is often neglected by bosses seeking a quick profit.

China's rapid economic growth has brought rising demand for power. It relies on coal for 70 percent of its energy needs, making it the world's largest consumer of the fossil fuel.

Last year, 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in the country, according to official statistics -- a rate of more than six workers per day.

Labour rights groups, however, say the actual death toll is likely to be much higher, partly due to under-reporting of accidents as mine bosses seek to limit their economic losses and avoid punishment.