GUIYANG - Ten people were killed and three are missing after a gas outburst at a coal mine in Southwest China's Guizhou province on Tuesday night.

Five people suffered injuries, but are not in critical condition, an official with the Pu'an county told Xinhua.

A total of 56 people have safely reached the surface. Local rescue workers are attempting to pull the three trapped miners out of the shaft.

The outburst occurred at around 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday at a coal mine in Louxia Township of Pu'an County.

Wang Jiangping, deputy governor of Guizhou, heads the rescue and investigation team.