Eight people were dead and 15 missing after an accident occurred Friday afternoon in a coal mine in the city of Pingdingshan, central China's Henan Province, local authorities said.

According to the city's emergency management agency, out of 45 people left in the mine, 8 were dead and 15 missing. The rescuers have made contact with the rest 22 people.

The accident happened at 2:55 p.m. in a coal mine of the Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co., Ltd. Preliminary investigation showed that it was caused by a coal and gas outburst.

A total of 425 people were working underground when the accident took place, and 380 of them have been lifted out of the mine.

Local authorities have mounted a rescue operation. Further investigations into the accident are underway.