Twenty-one miners have been confirmed dead after a gas leak accident at a coal mine in China's southwestern province of Yunnan, and hundreds of rescuers are rushing to save the 22 people still trapped underground Friday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

China Daily via Reuters

Rescuers take a break outside a coal mine after a gas leak accident in Shizong county, Yunnan province, on November 11.

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A hard hat is seen on the ground at Sizhuang Coal Mine on November 10.

China Daily via Reuters

Rescuers enter the coal mine on November 10.

Previously on PhotoBlog: Gas leak kills 20 in China mine accident

China Daily via Reuters

Relatives of trapped coal miners cry outside a coal mine after a gas leak in Shizong county, Yunnan province, China, on November 10. A gas leak at a colliery in southwestern China has killed 20 miners and trapped 23 more underground, state media said on Thursday.

China Daily via Reuters

A rescuer stops people from approaching the entrance to a coal mine after a gas leak on November 10.

The AP reports from BEIJING:

Hundreds of rescuers were working Thursday to save 23 Chinese coal miners trapped underground by a gas leak that killed 20 others.

Thirty firemen, 100 rescuers and 300 medical workers were on site at the Sizhuang Coal Mine, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing Yunnan province's emergency response office. Read the full story.