A coal mine explosion has killed 17 people and trapped 19 others in northern China.

Around 100 workers escaped the blast which happened at midday on Saturday, the China News Service said.

The local government has launched search and rescue operations at the Baoma Mining Co. Ltd. in the city of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia.

It comes just days after another coal mine blast Qitaihe City, in northeastern Heilongjiang province in which 22 workers were trapped underground.