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13 dead in C China gold mine fire

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-09 19:05

ZHENGZHOU: A total of 13 workers have been choked to death in a fire at a gold mine in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province, the municipal government said Wednesday.

The bodies have been retrieved and sent to a funeral home.

Related readings:  One dead, 12 trapped in central China gold mine fire  13 trapped in gold mine fire in central China  Blast in illegal mine kills 35  Coal mine blast kills 35 in Henan, 44 missing

A cave-in cut off electric wires and triggered a fire at about 9 pm Tuesday at a gold mine owned by Jinyuan Mining Co., the government confirmed.

Authorities earlier said the accident occurred at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.

At the time of the fire 12 miners were working underground, and six fled to safety. The mine sent eight rescuers down the pit, but seven were trapped by the fire.

Further investigation is underway.