CHONGQING – Seven people drowned after rainwater surged into a mine shaft where they were illegally mining in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, local police said on Monday.

Police in Youyang Tujia and Miao autonomous county said the victims were found in a closed, abandoned mine near the boundary between Youyang and Xiushan Tujia and Miao autonomous county.

READ MORE: 5 dead in illegal mining collapse in Yunnan, 1 injured

They also caught 21 people suspected of illegal mining during a search following reports of missing people at the mine on Saturday.

Further investigation is underway, police added.