An explosion at a coal mine in northeast China's Jilin Province on Thursday morning left 11 people dead, six injured and two missing, local authorities said Thursday.

The blast occurred around 8:40 a.m. at the Tonggou coal mine in the city of Baishan, according to the city government.

Twenty-six of the 39 underground workers managed to escape. The six injured workers have been sent to hospital.

Rescuers are searching for two missing workers, and the Vice Governor of Jilin Province Wang Zuji rushed to the site to direct rescue work.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway. All coal mines in Baishan have been ordered to halt production to straighten out operation irregularities.

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