BEIJING, May 17 (Reuters) - A tunnel at a hydropower station in southwest China collapsed on Saturday, trapping eight workers, but it was not yet clear whether it was related to Monday's devastating earthquake in a nearby province, state media said.

The collapse happened at a water diversion tunnel in Yunnan that is part of the Dayingjiang hydropower station, located in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing a spokesman with the local government.

Xinhua cited rescue workers as saying they could still hear voices coming from the tunnel, suggesting the workers were still alive. Authorities were investigating the accident.

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province on Monday, killing tens of thousands of people and prompting concerns about damage to dams and river banks that could lead to deadly flooding. [ID:nPEK354818] (Reporting by Jason Subler; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

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