A gas outburst trapped 24 coal mine workers underground Thursday evening in southwest China's Guizhou Province, rescuers said.

A total of 31 miners were working in a shaft of Yuanyang Colliery when the accident occurred at about 9:40 p.m. in Puding County, Anshun City. Seven escaped while another 24 were trapped, according to the city government's information office.

The identities of the miners were not available.

Rescuers are racing against time to search for the trapped. Work safety officials and police are investigating the cause of the accident.