CHANGCHUN - A coal mine gas blast killed 18 people and injured 12 others in Northeast China's Jilin province, local authorities said Sunday.

The blast occurred around 1:26 pm Saturday at Qingxing coal mine in Helong city.

A total of 73 people were working underground when the blast occurred, and 55 of them have been lifted out to safety.

Rescue work has come to an end by early Sunday morning. An investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.