Twenty-five people were confirmed dead in a central China coal mine fire that occurred on Monday night, local government said Tuesday.

Cables caught fire at 8:30 PM in a main pit of Dongxing Coal Mining Co. in Xinmi City in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, when 31 workers were working underground, according to the Information Office of the Zhengzhou City Government.

Six miners were saved in a rescue operation that ended at about 2:00 AM Tuesday.

The mine is in operation illegally, initial investigation showed.

Local police have detained at least three mine managers and forzen their and also the mine's assets.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2010)