Two people were dead and five others missing in a coal and gas outburst at a mine in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a government official said Sunday.

The accident took place at 8:43 AM Sunday at the mine that belonged to Tianfu Mining Company, said Guo Mingyue, deputy head of the government of Hechuan District in Chongqing.

Among the 10 workers who were working underground at the time of the coal and gas outburst, three were rescued, two dead and the other five missing, said Guo.

Tianfu Mining Company has been ordered to suspend production.

Rescue for the missing miners is under way.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2009)