Poisonous gas killed 13 workers and injured another on Wednesday at the Nanwugou Coal Mine at Linfen City, in north China's Shanxi Province. There were 14 miners underground when the incident occurred.

At about 4:00 AM, workers discovered that the shaft they were working in intersected with that of another mine, according to China News Service. Eight were immediately sent to block the other shaft, and another six sent in at about 6:00 AM.

Two hours later, two of the mine's managers entered the shaft and found the bodies of the latter six miners. They reported the incident and a rescue team was sent in.

Rescuers found only one man still alive, and recovered the bodies of the other 13.

No reports are yet available on the condition of the survivor.

A preliminary investigation indicates that gas accumulated within the mine to lethal levels, but the cause of the buildup has not yet been determined.

In recent weeks, hundreds have died in mining accidents.

A total of 166 people died in a massive gas explosion at the Chenjiashan mine in Shaanxi Province on November 28. Just 38 days before the Shaanxi accident, an explosion at the Daping mine in Henan claimed 147 lives.

Zhao Tiechui, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said that the Chenjiashan disaster was the worst in China in 44 years, following a gas explosion that killed 187 miners on November 28, 1960, in Henan Province.

The worst coal mining disaster in the world occurred in China, prior to the founding of the People's Republic. On April 26, 1942, a coal dust explosion at the Benxihu Colliery killed 1,549 people.

From January to November, 3,413 accidents were reported nationwide, claiming 5,286 lives, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

The Hebei Province procuratorate's office reported this week that four local officials have been detained and charged with dereliction of duty in connection with the November 20 iron ore mine fire that killed 70 last month, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The detained officials were responsible for granting operating permits to the mines, conducting safety inspections and organizing and overseeing special training for miners.

Shi Juxing, Liu Shengmin, Liu Guimin and Guo Zhengmin were in charge of work safety and natural resources at the mine near Shahe City when the fire broke out on November 20, Xinhua said.

(China.org.cn, CRI.com December 23, 2004)