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One dead, 12 trapped in central China gold mine fire

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-09 13:23

ZHENGZHOU: The body of a miner was retrieved by Wednesday noon from a fire that broke out in the morning at a gold mine in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province.

A total of 12 mine workers and rescuers are still being trapped and rescue work is continuing, according to the city's work safety administration.

The fire at the gold mine affiliated to the Jinyuan Mining Industry Company has not been brought under control, the city's coal mine industry bureau said.

Related readings:  13 trapped in gold mine fire in central China  Blast in illegal mine kills 35  Coal mine gas blast kills 7 in SW China  Death toll rises to 14 in N China coal mine blast

The bureau has sent another 25 professional coal mine rescue workers to the scene, after seven of eight rescuers, who had been sent earlier, were trapped under the mine by the fire.

Lei Jianguo, director of the bureau, said a sudden cave-in triggered an electric cable to catch fire at 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, when 12 miners were working under the mine. Only six of them managed to escape.