BEIJING, July 24 (UPI) -- Fire erupted in a sulfur mine in northwest China's Shaanxi province, killing all 10 trapped workers, authorities said Wednesday.
Rescuers managed to retrieve the bodies of seven of the 10 miners who were trapped after the fire Tuesday afternoon, Xinhua News Agency reported. The other three also were confirmed dead, the report said.
Rescuers were hampered by a mist containing high concentrations of poisonous carbon monoxide rising from the pit, the report said.
There were a total of 27 miners in the pit in the province's Chengcheng County who got trapped when the fire broke out, the report said. However, rescuers managed to save 17 of them, who were reported in stable condition at a local hospital.
The report said initial investigation showed the miners were doing some repair work in the pit which may have triggered the fire.
