GUIYANG - A coal mine gas explosion killed seven people and injured 11 in Southwest China's Guizhou province Monday, local authorities said.

The explosion occurred in Dahebian Coal Mine in Liupanshui city at 7:32 am when 41 were working underground. Twenty-three have been lifted out of the shaft safely.

The Dahebian coal mine belongs to the state-owned Guizhou Shuicheng Mining Company, which has an annual output of 900,000 tonnes.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.