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Death toll from gas leak in coal mine rises to 11

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-04 19:49

ZHENGZHOU - Rescuers retrieved two more bodies from a coal mine in Central China Wednesday, bringing the death toll from Monday's gas leak in the colliery to 11.

Five miners are unaccounted for, and rescuers hold little hope of finding them alive.

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The gas leak occurred late Monday in the Sanyuandong Coal Mine in Dengfeng city, Henan province, as 127 miners worked underground.

Some 111 miners were quickly lifted to safety.

The chances of survival of the five missing miners are slim due to the high concentrations of gases down the pit.

The manager of the state-owned mine has been sacked and the company's chief engineer has been suspended from duty.

Rescue operations continue.