Xinhua quoted that rescue headquarters said that 28t miners have been confirmed dead after a gas leak occurred in a coal mine in southwest China Yunnan province Thursday morning.

As of 6:30 PM Saturday 28 bodies have been found and 15 miners are still trapped underground at Sizhuang Coal Mine located in the county of Shizong near the city of Qujing.

According to a statement from the provincial coal safety supervision bureau the mine was operating illegally, having had its license revoked a year ago. The bureau ordered the mine to stop production in April.

Mr Luo Lin director of the State Administration of Work Safety along with a group of gas experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering rushed to the accident site on Saturday afternoon.

He ordered local authorities to do anything possible to save the trapped miners.

According to rescue headquarters the families of 17 victims have received CNY 10,000 for funeral expenses. Each dead miner's family will get a compensation package of CNY 660,000.

Hundreds of rescuers are continuing to search for trapped miners.

About 240 tonnes of coal dust have been cleared out and a 250 meter long section of the mine tunnel has been cleared.

(Sourced from Xinhua)