The death toll from a gas burst at a coal mine in southwest China's Yunnan Province has risen to six, with five miners still missing, local authorities said Wednesday.

The miners were working in a shaft of Malishu Coal Mine in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, when the accident happened at about 1:50 AM Monday, said a spokesman with the prefectural government.

The bodies of five miners were recovered early Monday at the ventilation shaft while the sixth was found 70 meters from the exit of the mine Tuesday evening, the spokesman said.

More than 110 rescuers were working around the clock to find the missing, said Li Jialong, deputy head of the prefecture.

Provincial work safety authorities are investigating the cause of the gas burst.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2009)