Nine miners died and two others are still missing after a gas explosion in a mine in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The blast occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning at Aotian Coal Mine in Shilin Town, Xingwen County, near the city of Yibin. At the time of the blast 28 miners were underground.

Of the survivors nine were injured, three seriously. The search is still on for the two missing miners.

Li Xuejiao, the county magistrate, told China Daily that officials went directly to the site when the news of the accident reached them, and they are currently supervising the rescue and investigation efforts.

According to Yibin Municipal Information Office, all hospitalized miners are now out of danger.

Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Supervision and Management Bureau said the mine was licensed and had an annual output of 60,000 tons.

(China Daily 05/11/2006 page2)