So far, about 30 people have managed to come to the surface. Twenty of them were taken to hospital in stable condition, according to Łukasz Pach, director of the provincial emergency medical service in Katowice.

According to the report of Xinhua news agency, more than 10 rescue teams are present at the spot and the rescue work is still going on.

The mine's owner, Polish Mining Group, said there were 68 people in the affected area at the time of the earthquake.

The coal mine is one of the oldest in Silesia, southern Poland.