BEIJING: A gas explosion at a mine in northeast China early Saturday killed 15 workers and left 114 trapped, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.

The incident happened at about 2:30 am at a mine in Heilongjiang province, Xinhua news agency said, quoting the provincial coal mine safety watchdog.

The company said 528 miners were working in the mine, 10 kilometres from Hegang City, when the blast occurred, Xinhua reported. It earlier said 139 miners had been trapped.

CCTV said most of the miners had managed to escape.

Xinhua said vice premier Zhang Dejiang was going to the scene of the incident to direct rescue operations.

The safety watchdog said the mine is owned by the Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group, based in provincial capital Harbin.

China’s coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal – the source of about 70 per cent of China’s energy.

Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in collieries last year, but independent labour groups say the actual figure could be much higher.