Four people were killed and nine others reported missing in a coal mine accident in China's Guizhou province, authorities said on Tuesday. The accident took place at around 9.10 p.m. on Monday at the Zimujia coal mine in Panzhou city, reports Xinhua news agency. Rescue work is underway.

Chinese mines, especially coal mines - the country's main source of energy, have a high accident rate and are among the most dangerous in the world, although in recent years the number of fatal accidents has fallen significantly.