The death toll from the latest coalmine gas outburst in southwest China's Sichuan Province rose to 11 when the last two bodies were retrieved on Thursday.

The sudden release of rocks and gas hit the Aotian Coal Mine in Xingwen County early on Wednesday morning, when 28 miners were working underground.

Rescuers lifted 17 miners to the ground from the shaft on Wednesday, and found the bodies of the two missing people on Thursday, according to the Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Bureau.

The nine injured miners have been hospitalized.

The mine is licensed, with an annual output of 60,000 tons.

Investigators are still trying to ascertain the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2006)