Latest reports out of China say a rescue team is continuing to look for the miners but their chances of survival are not known.

The blast occurred at the Jiuyuancun Colliery, a village-owned coal mine with an annual output of 60,000 tonnes, Chinaview reported.

An official statement from the provincial administration of coal mine safety supervision said the mine was operating illegally as it did not have production licences and had been ordered to suspend operation in September.