国内英语新闻:14 die, 23 trapped in east China gold mine fire

ZHAOYUAN, Shandong, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen miners were confirmed dead, 23 others still trapped underground while 292 were lift to the ground safely following a fire that engulfed a gold mine in east China's Shandong Province Friday, local authorities said early Saturday morning.

A total of 329 miners were working underground when the fire broke out at about 5 p.m. at the Luoshan Gold Mine run by Lingnan Mining Co. Ltd. in Zhaoyuan city, a spokesman with the rescue headquarters told Xinhua.

Three hundred and six were lifted to the ground as of 5 a.m., but 14 of them were found dead, he said.

Twenty-three people were still trapped underground, with 21 miners' locations identified, he added.

Dozens of injured miners had been sent to two local hospitals, he said.

An initial investigation showed that the fire was likely caused by an underground cable. Police were further investigating the incident.

The mine owner had been taken into police custody, he said.

Over 100 rescuers are working at the scene. Provincial Party chief Jiang Yikang and governor Jiang Daming have rushed to the scene to oversee the rescue work.