Death toll rises to 12 in N China mine fire

The death toll from a coal mine fire in north China rose to 12 after one of the two missing miners was confirmed dead, local government said Sunday.

All the 12 died due to carbon monoxide poisoning after a forcing fan caught fire under the Aijiagou coal mine in Huailai County, Hebei Province.

Rescuers are still searching for the last missing miner.

The accident occurred at 8 p.m. on Thursday when 13 workers were doing maintenance work in the mine.