At least 19 mine workers were killed and 28 others missing after a gas explosion rocked a coal mine in the south-western Chinese province of Sichuan, officials said on Thursday.

A total of 152 miners were working underground at the Xiaojiawan Coal Mine in the coal-rich Panzhihua city when the blast occurred on Wednesday evening.

A total of 107 miners have been rescued, although 28 remain missing, the local rescue headquarters said.

Rescue work involving 76

The coal mine, owned by Zhengjin Industry and Trade Company Limited in Panzhihua, is situated some 750 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital Chengdu.

The owner of the mine is being questioned by police, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Hundreds of Chinese workers get killed in accidents in Chinese mines despite safety measures introduced by the government from time to time.