Thirteen miners and rescue workers were killed after a fire ripped through a coal mine in China's northern Hebei province, state press said.

Seven miners were killed in the fire which engulfed two pits of the Dongshangcun Coal Mine in Wuan township on Wednesday, the China Daily said.

Six rescue workers also choked to death on thick smoke that billowed out of the mine, it said.

The 13 bodies were recovered Thursday. An investigation into the cause of the fire was underway.

Chinese mines have an appalling safety record, and the number of mining deaths last year reached 14,924, according to the work safety bureau.