HARBIN - The number of people trapped underground after an explosion at a coal mine on Wednesday afternoon has risen to 19, the work safety authority in northeast China's Hegang City, Heilongjiang Province said.

The explosion happened at about 2:30 p.m., at the time 52 people were working underground, 33 managed to escape.

Previous updates from the local authority said 17 out of 50 people in the mine were trapped, however, it was later discovered that another two miners were underground when the explosion occurred.

The fire caused by the blast is still burning after 17 hours. The rescue mission continues.