Death toll in China coal mine blast rises to 13

BEIJING: The death toll in a coal mine gas explosion in southern China's Guizhou Province rose to 13 as three more bodies were today found at the blast site.

The gas explosion had occurred on Tuesday evening at a coal mine in Louxia Township of Pu'an County and had left 10 dead and five injured.

Authorities today found bodies of three people, who were previously reported missing, taking the death toll to 13, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The rescue operation has been wrapped up now.

China, the world's largest producer of coal, is grappling to improve standards in the sector, where regulations are often violated.

Accidents in Chinese coal mines killed about 930 people last year.