Twenty three people were killed and one survivor rescued after an accident at a coal mine in Chongqing municipality in southwestern China, according to a local rescue team.

The 24 had become trapped at the Diaoshuidong Coal Mine in Yongchuan district, Chongqing, on Friday afternoon at around 5 pm after an apparent carbon monoxide overrun accident.

The fatalities were announced on Saturday.

The coal mine had been closed for more than two months. The coal company organized workers to dismantle the underground equipment without the permission from the related department.

After the accident, some Chongqing officials rushed to the scene to organize public security, emergency, fire, and other departments at the municipal and district levels that were carrying out rescue efforts.

The cause of the accident is under further investigation.