Chinese state media say 26 workers have been killed in an accident at a tin mine in central China's Hunan Province.

The Xinhua news agency says 19 workers at the mine in Lengshuijiang City died instantly when two elevators plunged Thursday due to a brake failure.

It says seven other workers died later despite getting emergency treatment.

Five others were injured.

Xinhua says an investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.

Chinese mines are among the deadliest in the world. More than 3,000 people died in coal mine accidents last year.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.