A coal mine fire in Xiangtan in central China's Hunan Province has killed one person and left 15 people missing in the mine tunnel.

Among 80 people who have been rescued, 13 of them have been lightly poisoned by the toxic gas.

The fire took place on Wednesday morning when the electric wire in the tunnel was broken by the transport equipment.

Rescue work began immediately after the electric fire started. Those who were poisoned were rushed to hospital.

The Shuangfu mine is located in Tanjiashan town in Xiangtan county, Hunan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2004)