A colliery gas blast killed 13 people in southwestern Chongqing Municipality, said local sources Friday.

The tragedy occurred at 5:15 AM Friday at the Gaoqiao coal mine in Nanchuan district. No further detailed information is available at present, including the number of miners working in the shaft and if there were any injured people.

A task force headed by vice mayor Zhou Mubing is rushing to the scene, and the cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2008)