The death toll from a coal mine blast in north China's Hebei Province has risen to 17 after rescuers found the bodies of the other six trapped workers, said local authorities on Monday evening.

The blast took place at 5:30 a.m. on Monday at the state-owned Shuidong Coal Mine, where 96 miners were working underground. Of them, 79 people have managed to escape, according to the provincial work safety administration.

Mining-used explosive is blamed for the blast. Local government ruled out the possibility of gas explosion, saying that the blast occurred when miners were relieving shift and handing over explosives.

Injured miners are receiving medical treatment in hospitals, among whom five are in critical condition.

Editor: Yan