The death toll from a colliery gas explosion in central China's Hunan Province has risen to six as the other four missing mine workers were found dead Friday morning, local authorities said.

The blast occurred at around 11:20 a.m. Thursday at Shuihualing coal mine in Xiaojia Township of Jiahe County, killing two miners at the scene and leaving four others missing.

The four bodies were recovered Friday morning, the Jiahe county government said in a statement.

Four government officials, including a township governor, a deputy township governor, a member of the township Communist Party Committee and a deputy director of the county coal mine industry bureau, were sacked after the blast, it said.

The county government also has ordered all local coal mines to suspend production for safety check-ups and improvement.

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