China coal mine accident toll climbs to 23
The death toll due to a carbon monoxide leak inside a coal mine in southwest China has gone up to 23, while one person has been rescued, officials said on Sunday.
The accident took place at around 5 pm (local time) on Friday at the closed Diaoshuidong colliery in Yongchuan district of Chongqing Municipality.
The dead are among 24 people trapped underground by excessive levels of carbon monoxide gas at the coal mine, where they were dismantling equipment in a pit.
The mine was suspended and shut down over two months ago.
The cause of the accident is being further investigated, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
