Death toll in China mine accident climbs to 11

The death toll in a coal mine accident in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has risen to 11 with two still missing, local authorities said Saturday. Rescuers retrieved one more body Friday afternoon from a coal mine where a pipeline collapse trapped 11 workers Wednesday morning, the search and rescue headquarters told Xinhua. The coal mine, owned by China National Coal Group Corp. in Yulin City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was still under construction when the accident happened at around 11 a.m. Wednesday. Thirty-seven workers were in the shaft when a major cement pipeline detached. Of the 26 people who were brought out shortly after the accident, two were confirmed dead and 16 were taken to hospital, including six with serious injuries. Rescuers are still searching for the two missing workers, though chances of finding anyone alive are slim. Repairmen fixed one of the lifts in the shaft Friday afternoon, which would hopefully speed up rescue work, a spokesman with the search and rescue headquarters said. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.