A gas explosion at a coal mine in southwest China's Sichuan Province Friday morning killed seven miners and left one missing.

The explosion occurred at around 11 a.m. when 13 miners were down the shaft of the Zhaojiahe Mine in Wanyuan City, according to a statement from the Sichuan Administration of Work Safety.

Rescuers saved six miners but one of them died on the way to hospital. They also recovered six bodies. One miner is still unaccounted for.

Search continued for the one still missing.