Death toll in NE China mine fire hits 17

SHENYANG - Another four miners have been confirmed dead, bringing the death toll in a mine fire in northeast China's Liaoning Province to 17 as of Friday morning, local authorities said.

The fire broke out Thursday afternoon at the Xingli coal mine in Huludao City. As of 9:07 p.m. Thursday, 23 trapped miners were lifted out of the mine, 13 of them died and the other 10 remain hospitalized.

Another four miners were lifted from underground later but died in hospital.

Sources said the fire was caused by electric welding. Official investigation is under way.