A total of 37 coal miners have so far been found dead and five remain missing following Monday's gas explosion in a coal mine in Datong in North China's Shanxi Province.

Rescue worker Wang Jinjun and others walk toward the Xing'ergou coal mine in Datong, North China's Shanxi Province August 11, 2003, to try to find five miners still missing during a fatal a gas explosion on Monday that has already killed 37 miners. [newsphoto.com.cn]

According to the State Administration of Production Safety (SAPS), the blast occurred at around 6:40 am on Monday when a total of 43 miners were working in the Xing'ergou coal mine in Datong, with only one managing to escape.

The blast also affected a neighbouring coal mine - 14 miners working there are currently receiving medical treatment.

Rescue workers are continuing their efforts to find the missing miners and an investigation into the cause of the explosion is taking place, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Two people who are believed to be responsible for the accident have been detained.

Shanxi Province is a major coal producing area in China, but this also brings it a high rate of mining accidents.

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