An explosion at a coal mine in China's central Henan province has caused the death of at least 30 people, 7 are still missing.

State media said the mine had been hit by a "sudden coal and gas outburst," which unleashed tons of coal dust, the BBC reports.

A rescue official has announced that it could take four days to reach the men and there was little chance they would be found alive.

"There is not much of a chance that the 11 trapped miners could have survived and it will take three to four days to find them," said Du Bo, Deputy Director of the rescue operation, as cited by the BBC.

According to Luo Lin, head of the work safety administration, it was fortunate that the explosion had not caused a fire, allowing most of the 276 miners to escape alive.

The Saturday morning leak was not the first similar accident. China's mines are the deadliest in the world, with more than 2,600 people killed in coal mine accidents in 2009 alone, the BBC reports.

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