A coal mine gas blast trapped 12 miners Saturday in Zongling, a town in Nayong County in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The accident occurred at 1:30 p.m. at Nencaochong Coal Mine when 16 miners were working underground. Four men have been rescued, according to Guizhou Provincial Administration on Production Safety.

The coal mine was operating legally and is owned by the town.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2005)