Six miners died after a conveyor belt caught fire in a coal mine in central China's Henan Province, local authorities said Thursday.

The accident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when 28 miners were underground in a mine affiliated with the Fenjin Coal Mine in Yichuan County, according to the provincial work safety administration.

Twenty-five of the workers escaped while the other three were trapped. A mine leader led two other people into the tunnel to attempt a rescue, but they were also trapped, the administration said.

All six bodies were removed from the mine at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Police and work safety officials are investigating the cause of the fire.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2009)