CHONGQING -- Fifteen miners have been confirmed dead after an explosion at a coal mine in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Monday morning.

A total of 35 miners were working underground at privately-owned Jinshangou Coal Mine in Laisu Town, Yongchuan District, when there was a gas explosion at 11:30 a.m.

Two people managed to escape, and 18 remain unaccounted for, said Chongqing municipal coal mine safety inspection bureau on Monday night. The bureau ordered all coal mines in the municipality to stop production and have safety checks.

More than 200 rescue workers including firefighters, armed police and mining rescuers are at the site, searching shafts for the missing miners.

The designed capacity of the mine is 60,000 tons of coals every year, according to its license.