The death toll increased to 20 on Monday from Sunday's coal mine explosion in Yuxian County, north Hebei Province.

The gas blast occurred Sunday morning at the Longtai Coal Mine in Yuxian when 29 miners were working underground. Only nine miners escaped the disaster.

Among the dead was the deputy manager of the mine and two gas technicians.

Officials with the provincial government have arrived at the site to monitor rescue efforts and investigate the blast cause. The county has closed all mines for safety check.

Built in 1999, the Longtai Coal Mine has an annual capacity of 50,000 tons.

(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2003)