A coal mine gas explosion in northeast China's Huludao City, Liaoning Province, has killed at least 14 and left two missing, local authorities said Sunday. Two others were injured.

The accident took place at the No. 3 Coal Mine of Shaguotun Village in Nanpiao District at 10:15 a.m. Saturday when 39 miners were working in a shaft, according to the Huludao City coal mine safety supervision authority.

When the blast hit, 21 miners escaped the shaft safely. The injured were immediately sent to hospital and both were out of danger.

"I heard a blast when we were working in the tunnel. Then I lost consciousness," said Dai Jingfeng, one of the injured.

The 41-year-old and his workmate suffered head injuries and would recover in about two weeks, a doctor said.

A rescue operation was ongoing at the private coal mine, which had all the necessary licenses required.

A preliminary investigation cited the blast to the fact that the miners were digging beyond their officially-approved limit.

The coal mine was established in 1985 with a designed annual output of 20,000 tons.

Huludao has issued a circular asking 77 other coal mines in the city to suspend production for rectifying measures.

Huludao is more than 300 kilometers from Shenyang, capital of Liaoning.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2008)