Seven workers died of carbon monxide poisoning Monday evening in a coal mine in northeast China's Jilin Province, local authorities said.

The accident occurred at about 6:00 PM in the Laoxiapan collieryin the Naizi Mountain in Jiaohe city. Five miners died at the scene and another two died during the rescue operation, the provincial emergency response office said.

Another four injured workers were rushed to hospital and were out of danger after medical treatment.

Work safety authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2010)