Eight people died in an explosion at a quarry in southwest China's Guizhou Province, work safety officials said on Monday.

The explosion occurred at around 1:00 AM on Sunday at the quarry of Huifeng Stone Material Factory in Poguan Village, Anlong County, said work safety administration officials of the Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qianxinan.

The stone processing plant, which was licensed but still under construction, carried out blasting last Friday, but some explosives failed, an initial investigation by the administration showed.

Villagers said they heard a bang from the plant when contractor Zhang Yunshu and others came to the quarry to clear material left from the blasting operation.

Rescuers have recovered some of the remains, including some clothes, and confirmed eight people, including Zhang, had died in the accident.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)