(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-04 21:46

TAIYUAN -- The death toll from a coal mine collapse in north China's Shanxi Province rose to nine, after rescuers recovered another five bodies underground Sunday.

The accident occurred at about 5:20 am Friday at a coal mine in Jingle County of Xinzhou City when 16 people were working underground, and seven miners managed to escape, according to the Shanxi Provincial Administration of Work Safety.

Rescuers found four bodies underground Friday.

The coal mine, owned by the Shanxi Jinle Coal Mine Industrial Co. Ltd., is a licensed one with an annual output capacity of 150,000 tons.

The mine had been shut down for some time and the 16 people were carrying out maintenance work when the collapse took place, according to the company managers.

Investigations into the cause of the accident have been underway.