HEFEI - Six people have been confirmed dead as rescuers found the last body on Thursday afternoon after a coal mine gas accident in east China's Anhui province.

The accident occurred around 10:30 am on Wednesday in the privately owned Wunan Coal Mine in Huaibei City, sources with the municipal publicity department said.

A preliminary investigation found that six people were working underground at the time of the accident.

The Huaibei municipal government has suspended production at local coal mines.

A further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.