The death toll from a coal mine gas outburst in central China has risen to seven as two more bodies were recovered Wednesday morning, said rescuers.

Four miners remain trapped in Xinjia Coal Mine in Badong County, Hubei Province.

There were 46 miners working underground at the time of the incident, which occurred around 8 p.m. Monday. Sixteen people were at the coalface during the outburst. Five managed to escape straight after the outburst, leaving 11 trapped.

On Tuesday afternoon, rescuers retrieved five bodies.

The legal representative of the mine is being held by police.