At least five miners have been killed and another 17 are missing following a gas explosion at a coal mine in Northeast China's Liaoning province on Thursday.

The blast occurred at around 11:40 am in a shaft at the Dahuang No 2 coal mine, at Dengta, where 23 miners were working.

As of Thursday night, five bodies had been found. One miner who had managed to escape was undergoing treatment, according to a statement by the government of Dengta, a county-level city under the administration of Liaoyang city.

The cause of the explosion was still unclear on Thursday night and local authorities had blocked the road leading to the mine.

About three hours after the accident, rescuers and ambulances began to arrive at the mine to carry out rescue work, according to local residents.

Rescuers prepare to go down to the shaft at Dahuang No 2 coal mine in Dengta, Liaoyang, Liaoning province, where a gas explosion killed five miners and trapped 17, on Thursday. [Jiang Bing / Xinhua]