The death toll from a coal mine explosion in northeast China's Liaoning Province at the weekend rose to 16 after two missing miners were found dead, investigators said on Monday.

The bodies of two missing miners in the blast were retrieved at 5?PM Monday from the No. 3 Coal Mine of Shaguotun Village, Huludao City, said a Huludao City government official. The bodies of 14 miners had been recovered two hours earlier.

A gas blast occurred at 10:15?AM on Saturday when 39 miners were at work. Twenty-one miners escaped unharmed, while two were injured. They were sent to hospitals, where they were reported to be out of danger.

The rescue operation has ended.

Investigators said there were illegal mining activities at the pit, such as the digging beyond officially-approved limits.

The mine's investor, surnamed Li, and legal representative, surnamed Liu, have been questioned by police. The mine's bank accounts were frozen.

The direct cause of the accident is still under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2008)