Rescuers have called off a search for two workers who were reported missing in Wednesday's coal mine explosion in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, putting the final death toll at 14, the local government announced early Monday.

The regional public security bureau had confirmed late Sunday that DNA tests on remains found at the site proved the two missing workers had died in the explosion, a spokesman with the local work safety department said.

The blast happened last Wednesday in Dafeng Mine in Shizuishan, when 22 workers were using dynamite to blast rocks. Only one of them escaped without injury.

Four people were killed at the scene and four others died later at hospital. Rescuers retrieved four more bodies at the site within 24 hours.

Seven workers were injured in the accident, two of whom were still in hospital as of Monday.

Dafeng Mine is owned by Shenhua Group, one of China's mining giants.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2009)