Chinese authorities confirmed Friday 13 people dead in two separate coal mine gas accidents in Guizhou and Anhui provinces in the past two days.

Ten people were killed Wednesday night at an illegally run coal mine pit of Gongqiao Village, in Weining County, Guizhou, said a spokesman for Guizhou Provincial Work Safety Bureau Friday.

Of the 14 miners working in the pit, only four were saved. They showed minor poisoning symptoms, and were out of danger after medical rescue, said the spokesman.

Guizhou Provincial Party and government officials have demanded a campaign be launched immediately to shut down all illegal coal mines.

Local police are investigating the cause of the accident and hunting down the owner of the illegal coal mine.

In Anhui Province, east China, three of the five miners working for the Wushi Mining Company in Ningguo City were found dead in a gas leak accident which happened at 9:47 AM Thursday, when the five miners were drilling at a coal strata about 600 meters beneath the ground.

Only two miners were saved alive by rescuers. The bodies of the dead had been hoisted to the ground.

Investigation is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2009)