Five miners died and four are missing after a colliery gas blast in central China's Hunan Province on Thursday.

The explosion occurred at about 10:00 AM at Lianyi Coal Mine in Lianyuan City when 20 miners were working underground, said Xie Guangxiang, director of the provincial work safety bureau.

Nine managed to escape and two were rescued, he said.

Production has been stopped at the pit.

Initial investigations showed the mine owner brought in the miners to repair tunnels without measuring the gas density and their electric tools triggered the explosion.

Rescue crews are planning alternative ways to reach the missing miners as the collapsed tunnels have hindered rescue efforts, said Xie.

The owner of the mine, which has an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons, disappeared after the blast.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)