15 miners confirmed dead in N. China mine blast

TAIYUAN -- Fifteen miners have been confirmed dead following Saturday's gas explosion in a coal mine in Linfen City, north China's Shanxi Province, rescuers said on Sunday.

Rescue operation is still going on.

The gas blast occurred around 1:50 p.m. on Saturday at Pudeng Coal Mine in Kecheng Township of Puxian County. About 30 miners were trapped underground, according to preliminary estimates. "The exact number of miners trapped underground is yet to be affirmed," said a spokesman for Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Coal Mine Safety Supervision.

The cause of the gas explosion is being investigated.

Pudeng Coal Mine, which is in operation with permits, produces 150,000 tons of coal a year.

Zhao Tiechui, director of the State Administration for Coal Mine Safety Supervision, together with local officials have rushed to the accident site to direct rescue efforts.