A coal mine accident has killed at least 15 people and injured another 3 in central China's Hunan Province.

The accident happened in the early hours of Thursday in Nanyang township in Leiyang city, after a tramcar carrying miners derailed in the coal mine.

Local government authorities have organized rescue operations, while the 3 injured miners have been taken to hospital.

The Hongfa Coal Mine was operating with full credentials and has a yearly output of 60 thousand ton.