Nine people were dead and seven trapped in a coal mine accident in central China's Henan Province at around midnight, said local authorities early Tuesday morning.

A total of 127 miners were underground and 111 were lifted to the ground safely after a gas outburst occurred at the Sanyuandong Coal Mine in Baiping Township, Dengfeng City, at 11:19 p.m. Monday, said a spokesperson with Zhengzhou Coal Industry Co., Ltd., which runs the mine.

The coal mine has a designed annual output of 300,000 tonnes.

Vice governors Li Ke and Shi Jichun have rushed to the scene to oversee the rescue.