BEIJING - A GAS explosion ripped through a coal mine in northeast China, killing 14 miners, state media said on Sunday, reporting the latest tragedy to hit the country's notorious mining sector.

Two other miners were listed as missing and two were injured in the blast, which occurred on Saturday near the city of Huludao in Liaoning province, Xinhua news agency quoted local authorities as saying.

Rescue efforts were underway, while the cause of the accident was unknown, it said.

Nearly 3,800 lives were lost in Chinese coal mines last year, down 20 percent from the year before, according to government figures.

However, many independent labour groups suspect the actual death toll is much higher, saying many accidents are covered up to prevent costly shutdowns and legal action.

Many of the accidents occur at illegally run mines where safety measures are routinely flouted in the quest for higher output of the booming nation's top energy source.

The privately owned Liaoning coal mine was operating with all the necessary licenses, Xinhua noted.

The Huludao city government issued a circular following the latest tragedy asking 77 other coal mines in the area to suspend production for unspecified 'rectifying measures'. -- AFP