TAIYUAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- A coal mine gas accident that occurred in north China's Shanxi Province Monday has killed 17 people, the local coal mine safety supervision authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

    The accident occurred at 4:50 p.m. Monday at Fenhemao Coal Mine in Lianggou town of Yuanping in the city of Xinzhou, killing all the 13 miners who were working underground.

    Management of the mine immediately sent a team of six rescuers down the pit, but two of them were suffocated to death.

    The tragedy killed another two miners in the neighboring Xiaosangou Mine because the two mines share one lane.

    Fenhemao, a village-run coal mine, reports an annual output of 30,000 tons. It holds a safety credential but its business certificate and production permit have both expired, said officials with the Shanxi provincial coal mine safety supervision bureau.

    Yu Youjun, acting governor of the province, has urged the bureau and the Xinzhou city government to continue rescue efforts, pinpoint the cause of the accident and compensate the victims' families in time and in full. Enditem

Rescuers carry the body of a dead miner at a coal mine in Yuanping City, North China's Shanxi Province October 31. [newsphoto]

A relative of a dead miner weeps at the coal mine October 31. [newsphoto]