FOURTEEN miners were killed, two others remained missing and two more were injured in a coal mine gas explosion in Huludao City, Liaoning Province, local authorities said yesterday.

The accident took place at the No.3 Coal Mine of Shaguotun Village in Nanpiao District at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, the publicity department of the Huludao City Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said.

Rescue efforts are still being carried out at the private coal mine, which has all the necessary licenses.

Preliminary investigation blamed the explosion on the fact that the miners were digging coal beyond their officially approved limit.

Huludao city government has issued a circular asking 77 other coal mines in the city to suspend production.(Xinhua)