CHANGSHA - Ten people have been confirmed dead after a colliery gas explosion in Central China's Hunan province, local authorities said on Monday.

The blast occurred around 7:55 pm on Sunday at Simachong coal mine in Shaodong county of Shaoyang city, an officer with the publicity department of Shaodong said.

A total of 39 miners were working underground when the accident happened and 29 of them have been lifted to safety, according to the officer.

Further investigation into the accident is under way.