Another 59 miners were injured in the explosion Saturday morning that ripped through the mine in the town of Anwen in the Chongqing region, the China News Service said.

The report also said three people 'responsible' for the blast had been taken into custody, but gave no other details.

The cause of the accident was being investigated, it said.

China's coal mines are notoriously dangerous. Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in collieries last year, but independent observers say the actual figure could be much higher, as many accidents are covered up. -- AFP