An explosion at a central China coal mine left at least six people dead and 34 injured Thursday.

The blast was reported at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday at Fenghuangling Coal Mine of Zhanhe District in the resource-rich city of Pingdingshan, Henan Province, a city government official said.

Half of a two-storey building on the surface collapsed. Another 34 injured people, including two severely hurt, are being treated in a local hospital.

The blast has left a hole 10 meters deep and more than 10 meters wide. Windows within 50 meters were shattered and the roof of a large warehouse was blown off.

Dozens of rescuers are working with excavators at the site. The blast site is about 30 meters from the entrance of a coal shaft.

Three of the dead were mine security guards, said a spokesman with the rescue headquarters. The others had not been identified yet.

Fifteen of the injured people were people living near the mine. The rest were maintenance and security staff.

The coal mine with an annual output of 150,000 tonnes was supposed to have suspended operations as it was being taken over by the state-run Zhong Ping Energy Chemical Group.