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Twelve miners were reported to have been working in the Qingshui No. 2 colliery when the Sunday night cave-in occurred.
Official state press agency Xinhua said by 11am Monday morning, three miners had been lifted alive from the debris and rescue work continued for the remaining workers.
The report cited a deputy general manager of the operation who detailed that 13.5m of roof collapsed at a newly-dug shaft some 500m underground.
The exact cause of the incident, however, is still under investigation.
Qingshui Nol. 2 is owned by Shenyang Coking Coal Limited Liability Company, a subsidiary of the state-owned Shenyang Coal Trade Group Corporation.
Xinhua said a mechanism had been outfitted in the mine to prevent further collapse, but rescue efforts would require three days to clean debris and left little hope of survival for the five miners still buried under the rubble.
