The death toll in a gas explosion in a coal mine shaft has risen to twenty six in central China's Henan Province. Local rescue headquarters said today, that a total of 46 miners were working underground when the gas blast occurred yesterday in the Suzhuang Coal Mine in Mianchi County, Sanmenxia City, about 300 kilometers from the provincial capital of Zhengzhou. Only 20 of them were lifted to the ground safely.