GUIYANG, June 11 -- Ten people have been confirmed dead after a gas outburst occurred in a coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou Province early Wednesday morning.

Local authorities in Liupanshui City said that 130 miners were working underground at the Xinhua Coal Mine when the gas outburst happened minutes after midnight. Of them, 120 managed to escape.

By 5:20 a.m., rescuers had retrieved all bodies of the 10 victims from the mine pit.

The mine is owned by Guizhou Hualong Coal Industry Co. Ltd., which is a joint venture between a local coal firm and the Hong Kong-listed China Resources Power Holdings Co. Ltd.