XI'AN - The death toll from a elevator cage accident in a mine in Northwest China has risen to seven after bodies of six workers were retrieved Friday, the provincial work safety authorities said.

Related readings: Coal mine lifter plummets; one dead, 6 trapped  2 killed, 2 injured in coal mine collapse  Company managers punished for C China mine blast  More deceit uncovered at deadly mine blast site in Henan

A misoperated elevator plunged when 11 workers were working in an under-construction shaft of the Xizhuozi Coal Mine in Shaanxi Province, on December 23. Only two workers escaped unharmed. One was killed at the scene, two were injured and six others were trapped, said a spokesman with the provincial work safety bureau.

Rescue work had been very difficult as the shaft was very narrow, deep, and also flooded, he said.