The death toll from a colliery gas explosion in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Sunday has risen to 15, local rescue officials said on Monday.

There were 41 miners working in the Zhongxing Colliery in Qinglong County when firedamp exploded, killing eight workers instantly and injuring three. Seven were left trapped in the mine.

Rescuers said on Monday afternoon that they failed to create a clearing into the collapsed mine after over 20 hours of rescue work.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

With a designed annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, it was reported that the township-owned mine had carried out a technology innovation project to increase the annual production to 60,000 tons.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2005)