CHENGDU - Four people died and 12 others were injured after a coal mine explosion in Southwest China's Sichuan province Tuesday night, according to local public security department Wednesday.

The accident occurred at 7:30 pm in Xunsi township of Junlian county in Yibin city, causing a three-storey house to collapse, sources with the department said.

The 12 injured have been hospitalized for medical treatment, while 26 others stayed in hospital for further medical checkup, according to the department.

Local government has launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion.