RESCUERS have recovered the bodies of six people who died after a coal mine tailings area suddenly caved in Thursday in northeastern China's Liaoning Province, sources with the local government said yesterday.

The accident occurred at 10:40 a.m. Thursday near Shajingou Village, Huludao City in southwestern Liaoning, when about a dozen local residents were picking remnants of coal to heat their homes.

The tailings area suddenly caved in, and five women and a man were buried in the 7-meter-deep hole which was created.

More than 10 machines were brought in to try and dig out the victims. Rescuers worked for 60 hours.

Zhang Li, an official with the provincial land and resource department said the hole may have been caused by a nearby mine. Others said there is an underground cave near where the accident happened.

(SD-Agencies)