The blast happened at the Xinfa coal mine in Fuxin City at 6:08 p.m. Saturday, when 34 miners were working underground, said an official with the Liaoning coal industry administration.

Twenty-seven managed to escape safely, but seven others died in the accident, said the official, adding rescuers have retrieved the seven bodies.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blast at the licensed coal mine, which has an approved annual capacity of 60,000 tons.