Beijing, April 21 (IANS) Thirteen people were confirmed dead in a coal mine gas explosion in China’s Yunnan province early Monday, authorities said.

A total of 56 people were working in the pit, of whom 42 escaped without injuries and 14 were trapped. As of 8 a.m., rescuers had retrieved 13 dead bodies and were searching all-out for the missing miner, Xinhua reported, citing a communique from the county government.

The accident occurred at around 12.30 a.m. in a pit of Hongtutian Coal Mine in Fuyuan County in Qujing city.

Hongtutian is a private mine and properly licensed for operation, authorities said.