Fourteen miners were confirmed dead and one survived in a gas explosion on Friday in a coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The blast happened in Huaxiang Coal Mine in Yangjiawan Town, Bijie City in the province, at 8:17 a.m. Friday when the miners were working underground.

Initial investigations show that a malfunctioning electric exhaust fan 400 meters underground ignited the gas explosion. One miner, who was near the entrance of the shaft, survived, and 14 others were killed.

It is learned that all the dead miners were locals of Bijie.

Huaxiang Coal Mine is jointly run by eight farmers of Sanhe Village, Yangjiawan Town. With an annual output of 5,000 tons, the mine was closed to suspend production in September of 2003 for rectification.

Tow days before the accident, the owner, who has not been located, organized local farmers to work underground, police said.

Local police is still hunting for the eight farmers, who jointly run the mine and escaped after the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2004)