At least 17 miners were killed in two separate coal mine accidents that occurred hours apart, as the country's top work-safety body vowed to prevent accidents during the upcoming festivities for New Year's Day and Spring Festival.

At about 1:50 am yesterday in Shuangbai county, Yunnan province, a gas buildup caused a mineshaft collapse, killing five miners and trapping another six, local authorities said.

"Rescuers are facing huge difficulties," said Meng Fu, an official from the local publicity department, who had arrived at the mine earlier yesterday.

Coal gas was still blowing out of the shaft entrance in gusts, according to a press release from the local government.

"We have already recovered five bodies," Meng said. "We are now struggling to reach the six trapped miners."

More than two hours earlier on Sunday night, 12 miners were killed and four hospitalized after coal gas ignited at a separate mine in Jiexiu city of Shanxi province, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The local Party committee has proposed to dismiss Han Haiyun, Jiexiu city's vice-mayor who was in charge of coal mine safety; Zhang Yiqian, head of the local municipal administration of coal mine safety; and Yang Guangdong, assistant mayor of the city.

The proposals still need to be approved by the local people's congress, Xinhua reported.

Police also detained five coal mine executives, including Xue Guohua, chairman of the Donggou Colliery Co., Ltd, Liang Yunqi, its general manager, and Liang Changfu, head of the mine.

Both mines where the accidents ocurred are categorized as small coal mines, with the one in Yunnan having an annual capacity of 40,000 metric tons while the other in Shanxi of 300,000 metric tons.

The mine in Shanxi was preparing to reopen after receiving a permit from local authorities in October.