Reports from Wednesday indicate 25 bodies had been recovered from the Shanxi province mine, where a gas explosion ripped though the mine when 37 workers were underground.

Dow Jones reported officials said rescue operations were difficult due to the large explosion area.

China Daily said according to investigations the coal mine authorities randomly cut off the power transmission without suspending the coal-cutting operation in the pit, and the explosion occurred shortly after electricity was restored.

In line with Chinese work safety rules, the mine should have been evacuated when the power was shut off and workers shouldn't have been allowed back in until the gas had been cleared, Dow Jones said.

In the two other disasters which occurred in the past two weeks, at least 65 miners have been killed and five remain missing.