Six people have been confirmed dead and another remains missing after a fire occurred on Saturday in a colliery in east China's Jiangxi Province, the local government said Sunday.

 

Altogether seven workers were working in the pit when the fire broke out in the shafts more than 100 meters underground at Luosiwu Coal Mine at 8:30 a.m. in Yanshan County of Jiangxi, said a spokesman with the provincial work safety administration.

 

Rescuers recovered six bodies from the shaft on Sunday morning and the victims were estimated to be killed by toxic gas sent by the fire.

 

Rescuers are still searching for the missing, though there seems to be slim chance for him to survive, said the spokesman.

 

Investigators said that a short-circuit might have occurred and ignited the cables underground.

 

The Luosiwu Coal Mine, run by the Yanglin Township government, has official operation licenses. It is designed to produce 40,000 tons of coal per year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2008)