China mine blast toll rises to 15

The death toll from the second coal mine explosion in China in the last four days rose to 15 taking the toll in the twin accidents to 59.

The last missing miner was found dead in the shaft of Gaokeng Coal Mine in Pingxiang City of Jiangxi Province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

In addition, 11 injured miners are still under treatment at a local hospital.

Of the six critically injured, five suffered burns to over 50 per cent of their bodies.

Thirty-eight miners were working in the mine when the accident occurred yesterday. 23 had escaped on their own or had been pulled out to safety.

This is the second mine blast in China since August 29 when 44 miners were killed in a similar accident at a mine in Sichuan province.

Two miners remain trapped in the Xiaojiawan Coal Mine in Panzhihua City, some 750 km southwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital.

The mine was struck by a gas blast trapping about a third of the 154 miners who were working underground.

Fifty-four workers were injured, 17 of them seriously.