Beijing - A blast in a coal mine in northern China killed 27 miners and left seven trapped, rescuers told Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

The explosion occurred at the mine in Xiaoyi City in Shanxi Province on Friday morning while 58 miners were working underground. Fifteen escaped and nine were rescued.

The bodies of the 27 dead were pulled from the mine shaft on Saturday morning.

More than 100 rescuers were working to save the seven miners still trapped. (dpa)