The collapse of a coal mine shaft in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday resulted in the deaths of nine miners, four others are missing and one was badly injured. 

The accident occurred at 3:10 PM in Guangyuan coal mine in Fukang when the 14 were working underground, said Wu Jiachun, deputy director of Xinjiang regional administration of the coal industry.

After the collapse poisonous gas seeped into the shaft and suffocated the nine miners. Their bodies have been recovered by rescuers. The injured man is being treated in hospital.

Mine managers were taken into custody and rescuers continue to search for the four missing workers. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

The privately-run coal mine has a license to produce 30,000 tons per year, according to Wu.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2006)