Beijing -- Coal mine accidents have claimed 104 lives in the past eight days, reported the state safety watchdog on Monday.

A report released by the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) shows that China's coal mine safety is growing worse.

"There is a stronger demand for coal in the winter as it is the major material for heating in most parts of China. For this reason, coal mines try to produce more than they can manage," said a SAWS official.

Three of the four serious accidents occurred in north China's Shanxi province, the country's major coal production base which is notorious for its frequent accidents.

A gas blast in a coal mine in Shanxi on November 12 killed 25 people and nine others are still missing.

Two and half hours before another accident in Shanxi on November 5, which left 35 dead and 12 missing, the gas monitoring system showed that the gas concentration was abnormal and that there was a risk of explosion, according to the SAWS.

But the production managers did not take effective measures and did not order the miners to stop working, it said.

The administration urged coal mines to strictly follow rules of operation and local governments to crack down on illegal shafts.