Rescuers found three more bodies Thursday morning after an explosion rocked a coal mine Wednesday in southwest China's Guizhou Province, raising the death toll to 16.

Sources from local authority said that a total of 49 miners were working underground when the explosion occurred at 1:30 AM Wednesday in the Panxian County, Liupanshui City. Sixteen men were trapped underground and thirty-three fled the site. Four were injured and hospitalized.

Zhang Qunshan, deputy governor of Guizhou Province, and chief officials with the provincial coal mine safety supervision rushed to the mine immediately. The provincial government has set up a rescue and investigation team.

The coal mine is a licensed township-run enterprise. The cause of the accident is under investigation. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2004)