Two workers were killed in a rockfall in a coal mine in southern Poland, the operating company, PGG, said on Tuesday.

PGG disclosed this as rescuers searched for another man buried in the incident.

The mine collapsed in Myslowice-Wesola, Silesia, in the early morning hours at a depth of 870 metres.

There were 15 miners on site at the time of the collapse.

Eleven of them were rescued, while four were initially missing.

Rescue teams succeeded in rescuing one injured miner to a hospital.

Later, rescuers came across two more miners who were confirmed dead by medical staff on the scene.

The fourth miner was presumed to be close to where the other three were found, said a spokesperson for the mine operator.

However, there has been no contact with the man.

Rockfalls are sudden movements and collapses in rock cavities often caused by blasting in mining.

Rockfalls are difficult to predict, making them a major safety risk for underground workers and people living in mining areas. 

(dpa/NAN)