(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-13 06:45

ZHENGZHOU -- The dead body of one of the 12 miners trapped in a Henan Province coal mine after a gas explosion in central China has been found. Rescuers continue to search for the others.

The explosion occurred at about 3:00 a.m. on Monday when 24 miners were working under the No. 10 mine of the Pingdingshan Coal (Group) Co., Ltd in Pingdingshan.

Twelve managed to escape while the other 12 were trapped.

"Forty rescuers are under the mine clearing the coal debris in the shaft and will soon enter the mining site," said Wei Xiujun, an engineer with the Pingdingshan Coal Company.

The identities of the trapped miners have also been confirmed, Wei said.