One miner was confirmed dead and 18 others were trapped underground after a coal mine blast in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local work safety watchdog sources said Sunday.

Rescuers prepare to search for survivors after a blast in Shunfa Coal Mine of Mudanjiang, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province December 30, 2007.

The explosion occurred at about 6 pm Saturday in Shunfa Coal Mine of Mudanjiang City when 21 miners were working underground. Two people were rescued and one body was found as of 8:50 AM Sunday, according to the provincial work safety administration.

Four rescue teams took shifts to enter the shaft but the dense poisonous gas, left by the blast, made it impossible for the rescuers to make any breakthrough.

Initial investigation showed that operators of Shunfa Coal Mine, whose license had been suspended, illegally resumed production before the accident occurred.

The investigation also indicated that the blast was possibly triggered by high density of gas and dust in the shaft.

The mine's owner and legal representative have been detained by local police.

Shunfa Coal Mine, built in 1996 and put into production in 1998, is a private mine with an annual production capacity of 40,000 tons.

The rescue work is still underway.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2007)