Death toll rises to 7 in SW China coal mine blast

GUIYANG -- Seven people were killed in a coal mine blast in Southwest China's Guizhou province, local authorities said Friday.

As of 4:10 pm Friday, the last trapped person was rescued from the mine and showed no signs of life. A total of seven people were killed with a solitary survivor in the accident.

The explosion happened at 4 pm Wednesday in a coal mine in Liangyan Town, the city of Bijie. Eight people were trapped when the gas explosion occurred.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.