JAKARTA, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - The death toll from a blast at a coal mine in Indonesia's West Sumatra province has climbed to 26, local media said on Wednesday.

The explosion of methane gas occurred on Tuesday at a mine in the Sawah Lunto district. Nine injured miners have been hospitalized and some 14 miners were still unaccounted for, health ministry crisis center head Rustam Pakaya said.

The bodies of the miners were found some 150 meters underground. There was little hope that the missing workers would be found, although a rescue operation is continuing.

The mine is owned by local residents who use basic methods, including explosives.