Rescuers are seen at the site of an accident in a coal mine of the Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co Ltd in Pingdingshan city, Central China's Henan province, Jan 13, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

ZHENGZHOU – Ten people have been confirmed dead and six others remain missing after an accident occurred Friday afternoon in a coal mine in the city of Pingdingshan, central China's Henan province, local authorities said on Saturday.

The accident happened at 2:55 pm Friday in a coal mine of the Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co, Ltd. Preliminary investigation showed that it was caused by a coal and gas outburst.

Total 425 people were working underground when the accident took place, and 380 of them have been lifted out of the mine. The rest of them are all safe.

Rescue work was still underway. People in charge of the coal mine have been kept in custody by public security authorities.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched experts to conduct rescue operations.

The ministry called for scientific and efficient rescue efforts and for stringent prevention of secondary accidents.

A task force was dispatched by the ministry and has arrived at the scene to conduct investigations.

Li Hongyang contributed to the story