A provincial government spokesperson told Xinhua at least three miners were trapped underground.

The official state newsagency reported that nine bodies had been recovered late Tuesday and a further 16 in the early hours of Wednesday.

The blaze started when underground cables caught on fire at 2pm on Tuesday while more than 70 miners were working in a shaft, with 43 escaping after the incident.

The mine is estimated to produce 60,000 tonnes per annum.