KUNMING - The death toll from a coal mine gas burst in Southwest China's Yunnan province rose to six after five more bodies had been recovered as of Wednesday afternoon, mine sources said.

A total of 215 miners were working underground at the Bailongshan coal mine in Fuyuan county when the accident occurred around 4 am on Sunday.

One miner was killed and eight others were left missing after the accident, while the other miners were lifted out safely.

Search and rescue for the three miners who remain missing is under way.