Authorities have said that an explosion at an underground coal mine in southern West Virginia on Monday left at least seven miners dead and they feared a higher death toll.

The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette reported that the blast occurred about 3 p. m. EDT at a Massey Energy mine in Raleigh County.

The agency was unsure how many miners had died in the explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine-South Whitesville, W. Va., operated by Performance Coal, a Massey Energy subsidiary, Ron Wooten, director of West Virginia's Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training, told the newspaper.

The newspaper said that at last word, the official count was seven dead and 19 unaccounted for.

The U. S. Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a statement saying rescue efforts were under way.

The Gazette also reported that West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin was preparing to return home from an out-of-town trip.

Manchin spokesman Matt Turner said, "We're monitoring it from minute to minute."

The newspaper also said that the Upper Big Branch Mine-South employs about 200 people. (With Inputs from Agencies)