A gas blast killed 11 people at a coal mine in northern China on Sunday, state media reported, in the latest accident to hit the country's mining industry.

A total of 21 miners were working underground when the blast struck at the Tianyu coal mine in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi province, a spokesman for the city government was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

The bodies of 11 miners were retrieved, while the 10 others were lifted safely above ground, the spokesman said.

China's mining industry has a notoriously poor safety record.

In 2010, 2,433 people died in coal mine accidents in China, according to official statistics -- a rate of more than six workers per day.

Labour rights groups say the actual death toll is likely much higher, partly due to under-reporting of accidents as mine bosses seek to limit their economic losses and avoid punishment.