The death toll in a coal mine gas leak in China's southwest Chongqing has risen to five after rescuers found the bodies of four missing workers, the local coal mining watchdog said on Thursday.

Rescuers retrieved the bodies Tuesday in a shaft of a coal mine in Chongqing Municipality after three days of searching efforts, according to the municipal coal mining supervision administration.

The accident occurred at about 6:20 PM on Saturday at Kangjia Coal Mine in Hechuan District, when 36 miners were working underground.

Thirty-one escaped and one was killed at the site.

One worker was injured but is in stable condition.

The private mine is licensed and has expanded its annual production capacity to 120,000 tonnes from 50,000 tonnes after technological innovation.

The mine was equipped with necessary ventilation and gas supervision systems, according to the watchdog, which said it is still investigating the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)