BEIJING - Twenty-two people were killed and nine others trapped in a gas explosion accident that happened in a colliery in southwest China's Sichuan province Saturday, the country's work safety authorities said.

Yang Dongliang, head of the State Administration of Work Safety and Fu Jianhua, head of the Administration of Coal Mine Safety have led a working team heading towards the colliery.

They urged the local safety authorities to organize urgent rescue work.

The accident occurred around 2 pm in Taozigou coal mine, Luxian county in the city of Luzhou when 108 miners were working underground, according to a statement from the provincial work safety supervision bureau.

Rescue work is underway.