A colliery fire left 11 miners dead and one more seriously injured in Xinluo District, Longyan City of east China's Fujian Province, said local sources.

The m ajor fire took place down the shaft with Linkeng Colliery, a privately-owned mine in Daji Village around 10:30 hours last Wednesday. After the accident took place, a special on-the-spot headquarters for the rescue operations was set up, and more than 200 people were sent to help the rescue the miners trapped beneath the ground.

Rescuers only saved one miner who is hospitalized and still in critical conditions, and found dead bodies of 11 other miners through over 72 hours' efforts. The rescue operations are now finished, said the sources.

Xie Qionghui, aged 61, owner of the colliery and a native of Daji Village, and Ran Conghai, leader of the miners who is from southwest China's Sichuan Province, have been detained by local police.

Cause of the fire is under further investigations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2004)