China's Xinhau News Agency reported that a gas explosion ripped through the mine with any potential survivors trapped 460m underground.
At least 27 of the 133 workers on site were rescued after the blast and an investigation is underway into the cause of the gas explosion.
This is the latest in a long list of mining tragedies to hit China with more than 5000 people killed last year in explosions, floods and cave-ins and 1600 already dead this year.