Death toll rises to 27 in Sichuan colliery accident

CHENGDU - Death toll from a colliery blast on Saturday in southwest China's Sichuan province rose to 27, local authorities said.

As of 11:13 pm, 81 miners were rescued. Sixteen of them were injured and are treated in local hospitals, sources said.

The accident occurred at around 2 pm in Taozigou coal mine, Luxian county in the city of Luzhou, according to an official statement.

An investigation into the accident is underway.

It is the second coal mine accident in 24 hours in the country.

On Friday evening, 12 miners were killed and two others injured in a colliery gas explosion in southwest China's Guizhou province, local authorities said on Saturday.