BEIJING, Feb. 12 -- 266 people were killed in 47 coal mine gas accidents last year, China's National Energy Administration said on Thursday.

The accidents and causalities were down 24.2 percent and 27.5 percent from 2013, the NEA said in a statement issued after a meeting of staff from over ten ministries including those of science and technology, finance, human resources and social security.

Though the number of accidents has decreased each year, the statement said that there are still too many. More effort must be made in 2015 to avoid major accidents (those with over 30 deaths), reduce those that kill more than 10 and achieve a year-on-year reduction of casualties by over 10 percent.

Last year, China extracted 17 billion cubic meters of coalbed gas, up 9.2 percent from 2013. It aims to extract 18.5 billion cubic meters this year.