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Toll climbs in China mine blast Toll climbs in China mine blast
(about 2 hours later)
More than 40 miners have died and dozens remain trapped underground after a gas explosion in a coal mine, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reports. At least 44 miners have been killed in an explosion at a coal mine in the northern Chinese province of Shanxi.
The blast at the mine in Gujiao City, in Shanxi province, occurred before dawn when 436 miners were underground. Rescue workers are at the scene in Gujiao city attempting to rescue dozens of miners who remain trapped.
Xinhua initially said 340 miners had managed to escape, but some had died in hospital and others were badly hurt. More than 400 men were at work at the time of the explosion but most managed to escape, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports.
China has the world's deadliest mining industry, with 3,200 deaths reported last year.China has the world's deadliest mining industry, with 3,200 deaths reported last year.
But the true figure of those killed is believed to be far higher, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing, as many accidents go unreported.But the true figure of those killed is believed to be far higher, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing, as many accidents go unreported.
Illegal mining, official corruption and weak safety inspections lead to tens of thousands of accidents in Chinese mines each year, our correspondent says.Illegal mining, official corruption and weak safety inspections lead to tens of thousands of accidents in Chinese mines each year, our correspondent says.
Rescue operation China has said safety is improving, with the official death toll from coal mining accidents falling by 15% in 2008 compared with the previous year.
Early reports from Xinhua suggested 96 miners were trapped after the explosion at about 0200 (1800 GMT) and that 11 miners had died.
It is unclear how many remained trapped, but hopes for their welfare were raised after some managed to contact loved ones by mobile phone, Xinhua reported.
Rescue workers were reported to be on the scene attempting to rescue the workers from the mine, which is owned by the Shanxi Jiaomei Group.
The group is China's largest producer of coking coal and operates 28 mines, according to the Associated Press news agency.
China has said safety is improving, with officials saying the number of fatalities from coal mining accidents had fallen 15% in 2008 compared with the previous year.
Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents had fallen by 19% to 413,700 last year.Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents had fallen by 19% to 413,700 last year.