The accident took place on Monday in Xinjia Coal Mine in Badong County. Five managed to escape straight after the explosion, leaving 11 trapped.
The cause of the mine accident is being investigated.
The Badong government has ordered a safety overhaul and production suspension for all mines in the county, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.
This is the third major mine accident in recent days.
Last week, at least 53 people were killed after two separate explosions rocked coal mines in northern China.
Thirty-two people were killed following an explosion at a coal mine in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and 21 workers trapped in a coal mine in China after an explosion on Novemeber 30 were confirmed dead.
Demand for coal in energy hungry China increases specially in winter as the it is extensively used for heating.
PTI