A rescuer gets out of the pit at the Sanyuandong Coal Mine in Baiping Township, Dengfeng City, central China's Henan Province, on Aug. 3, 2010. A gas outburst occurred at the coal mine at 11:19 PM Monday, leaving nine people dead and seven still trapped. [Xinhua]

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 PM 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.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2010)