Three dead bodies have so far been found, while a reported 49 of the 71 miners managed to escape.
China Daily reported rescuers had reached 12.5 metres of a 25m tunnel filled with mud on the first day of the rescue effort.
The coal mine in South China is believed to have collapsed on Saturday and an initial investigation has revealed the collapse was likely caused by continuous rain.
China Daily reported Guangxi Heshan general manager Su Fuchao as saying rescuers were halfway through a tunnel which is thought to be closest to six miners who have a higher chance of survival.
“We are trying to clear off a giant rock now, but we can only progress a few centimeters per hour,” Su said.
Su said the rescue work is difficult due to the presence of toxic gas inside the shaft, which is the reason rescue efforts were temporarily suspended on Monday.
The rescue team resumed later that day.
