The death toll from an explosion this morning in a mine in the Spanish region of Asturias has risen to five people, with another four seriously injured, the region's emergency services authority said.

The accident happened inside the Cerredo coal mine, in the municipality of Degaña, Asturias, and according to the Mining Rescue Brigade and the Judicial Police, it was caused by a pocket of grisu, a gas present in this type of mine that causes powerful explosions when exposed to air.

The five dead all lived in the province of León, neighbouring the municipality of Degaña, and were aged between 32 and 54, said the Asturias government office.

According to the same source, the workers were carrying out work under an exploration licence related to the possible use of the mineral for the production of graphite.

At the time of the accident, the authorities reported four dead, four injured and one missing. Two people were unharmed in the accident.

The injured were taken to hospitals, two by helicopter and two by ambulance, and three helicopters were mobilised to help with the rescue operations.