Six people have been detained in wake of a coal mine gas blast that left nine people dead and four others missing Monday in southwest Chongqing municipality, local authorities said.

The accident took place at the Fufa Coal Mine in Dashu Township of Fengjie county at about 1:10 p.m. Monday, while 16 miners were working underground, said publicity officials with the Chongqing municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Six people responsible for the mine operation, including the mine owner, were detained by police, officials said.

The death toll has climbed to nine as one more body was found on Tuesday. Three miners were hospitalized, with one in serious condition, officials said.

A team of 46 rescuers is searching for the missing.

An investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.

The mine is properly licensed with an annual coal output of 40,000 tonnes.