The bodies of the four trapped had been found after a lime kiln collapsed Friday morning in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, rescuers said on Monday.

After more than 70 hours of rescuing work, the four bodies had been found and the lime kiln had been closed, rescuers said.

The hillside kiln in Baiyanggou, Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, collapsed at about 9 a.m. with five workers inside, said Fan Yuanzhao, head of the Chenggong Lime Plant, which owns the kiln.

One worker escaped, but four remained trapped.

The kiln began operation in 2005 and produced 20 tonnes to 30 tonnes of lime a day.

Further investigation is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2009)