On Monday a blast at a gold mine in Ecuador left almost seven miners dead and another 30 missing.

The blast occurred around 7 p.m. local time at the Liga de Oro mine, near the town of Ponce Enriquez, 350 kilometres southwest of Quito.

The mine is owned by Ecuadoran Company Sominur.

Rodrigo Durazno firefighter chief said: “We have recovered from the rubble seven bodies, and sent 40 injured people to area hospitals. There are also some 30 people reported missing.”

The accident might have been caused by a circuit that triggered the explosion in the mine’s dynamite depository.

According to Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea the mine had limited safety measures in place, the Associated Press reports.

Larrea said: "It was an explosion in the mine — we still don't know the cause — and the injured are being taken to Machala.”

He also added that about 60 miners were trapped in the mine.

Jose Pacheco, a spokesman for Sominur, said that two men were killed and that 15 had been injured.

He said: "There are no miners trapped as it has been said."

Police officer Jose Pazmino said that one miner was killed and 40 were injured.

He said: "Everyone from Machala is in the mountains, where the mine is, trying to help in any way they can."

The explosion was so powerful that it could be felt in Machala, which it is at 15 minutes away from the mine by car.

Rescue efforts had to be called off for the night.

Durazno said: “They will resume Tuesday, but we know that there is a lot of destruction at the site.”

Minister Larrea said that the accident "demonstrates the need for responsible mining in Ecuador".