The death toll from Sunday's cave-in at a gypsum mine in north China's Hebei Province has risen to 27, according to the local government yesterday.

Twenty-one miners have been hospitalized and 20 are still trapped, according to the rescue headquarters.

The accident occurred at 7:40 PM on Sunday in Shangwang Village, Huining Township of Xingtai City. It affected two other neighboring gypsum mines, causing many of their residential buildings to collapse.

State and provincial officials in charge of production safety have gone to the site to direct the rescue work.

The city issued a notice on Monday ordering all the mines in the city to implement safety overhauls.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2005)