A total of 13 workers have been choked to death in a fire at a gold mine in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province, the municipal government said Wednesday.

The bodies have been retrieved and sent to a funeral home.

A cave-in cut off electric wires and triggered a fire at about 9:00 PM Tuesday at a gold mine owned by Jinyuan Mining Co., the government confirmed.

Authorities earlier said the accident occurred at about 5:00 AM Wednesday.

At the time of the fire 12 miners were working underground, and six fled to safety. The mine sent eight rescuers down the pit, but seven were trapped by the fire.

Further investigation is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2009)