A gas blast left 24 miners dead and two missing in a coalmine in southwestern Guizhou Province on Wednesday, said an official with the State Administration for the Supervision of Production Safety (SASPS).

The official, who declined to be named, said 15 miners survived the explosion.

A total of 41 miners were working underground at Yinjiadi Coalmine, in Zhongshan District in Liupanshui city, when the explosion occurred at 11:35 am, said the official.

The rescue operation is still underway.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)