A gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou Province early Saturday, leaving 13 miners dead and six missing, local authorities said.

The blast hit the Xincheng coal mine in Panxian County, Liupanshui City, at 0:30 a.m. when 34 mine workers were working underground, the county government said in a statement.

Fifteen mine managed to escape, it said.

Rescuers have recovered 13 bodies and are searching for the six remaining missing.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway.