Xinhua says Chinese authorities and rescuers believe the accident may have been triggered by a gas burst.

While 13 remain trapped underground, the death toll has risen after three of the last four miners who were pulled out of the mine died in hospital yesterday.

The fourth worker is currently in a stable condition.

Rescue work for the trapped miners is underway, although efforts have been hampered due to the shaft being blocked by the collapse.

A total of 116 miners were working underground when the accident happened but 95 were lifted out of the mine safely.

The Jilin provincial government has ordered a thorough work safety check in the province.