Sixteen miners died when improperly drained gas burst from a coal mine in central China's Hunan Province Monday afternoon.

The accident occurred at about 5:05 PM at the Yinguangshi Coal Mine in Lianyuan city of Hunan Province. By 22:00, the 16 had been confirmed dead and 21 others rescued.

Yan Yinchu, deputy director of the Hunan Coal Mine Safety Supervision Bureau, said that the mine was kept illegal operation without mining permit though the supervision department had asked the owner of the mine to stop production several times.

Rescue work continues and the investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, said Chen Fengwen, vice mayor of Lianyuan city, who is guiding the rescue work at the spot.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2004)