(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-08 19:11

GUIYANG -- A gas leak in a coal mine in Southwest China's Guizhou Province trapped 34 miners on Thursday afternoon.

Local work safety authorities said the gas leak at Qunli Coal Mine in Nayong County occurred at 2:10 pm when 86 miners were working in the shaft. Fifty-two managed to escape.

The rescue operation to save the trapped miners is continuing.

Qunli Coal Mine is a licensed colliery with an annual production capacity of 300,000 tons.

Following the accident, the provincial authorities ordered all local coal mines in the county to suspend production to root out hidden safety loopholes.

Since late August, the province has reported five coal mine gas leaks and explosions, killing a total of 20 miners, the work safety authorities said.