BEIJING: A coal mine explosion in eastern China has killed at least 14 people just days after a blast in the country's southwest left 44 dead.

The official Xinhua News Agency says dozens of miners were working when the blast ripped through the Gaokeng Coal Mine in Jiangxi province's Pingxiang city at midday on Sunday.

Xinhua reported Monday that 23 escaped or were rescued and 14 were confirmed dead. It said one miner remained missing Monday and 11 workers were hospitalized.

A blast Wednesday in Sichuan killed 44 people, the highest single accident toll for the industry in nearly three years.

Coal mine accidents are common in China, where work safety rules are often ignored.