MEXICO CITY, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 65 miners trapped in a coal mine in northern Mexico are not likely to survive, Mexican Labor Secretary Francisco Salazar said on Wednesday.

    Salazar made the remarks based on an analysis jointly conductedby Mexican and U.S. scientists, which shows that the quality of air in the coal mine is too poor to sustain life after a huge explosion.

    Salazar said the air there is "not breathable," because the methane thickness has currently reached 5.5 percent, while the oxygen is reduced to only 18.7 percent.

    A minimum of 21 percent of oxygen is needed for normal breath.

    On Sunday, a huge explosion occurred at the Pasta de Conchos mine in the northern city of San Juan de Sabinas. Among the 80 miners working in the mine, only 15 have been rescued so far. Enditem