A gas explosion in a coal mine killed seven miners and their bodies have been found at the spot in Fuyuan of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

They were found dead in a sitting position round a windpipe. Preliminary observation showed they had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Cai Jianfang, chief engineer with the mine.

Xinhua got the clue of the accident from local sources and sent a reporter to cover it Tuesday in the mine, 300 kilometers away from Kunming, the provincial capital.

The gas explosion occurred last Saturday when a 40-meter-long cable caught fire, resulting in burning of the wooden frames and coal layer in the pit.

According to Cai, the coal mine immediately evacuated miners working in the pit and organized rescuers to put out the fire. Seven workers, however, were separated by flames in pit. When a narrow lane leading to the seven was dug, they were found already dead.

Rescue on miners in the pit has been completed. But rescuers still working hard to extinguish the surging flames, Cai said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2004)