KUNMING - The death toll from a gas explosion in coal mine in Southwest China's Yunnan province has risen to nine after the three miners who remained unaccounted for were found dead on Thursday morning.

The search and rescue operation ended at about 8 am after the last of the bodies were retrieved, the mine operator said.

A total of 215 miners were working underground at the Bailongshan mine, run by Diandong Energy Co in Fuyuan county, at the time of the accident around 4 am on Sunday.

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