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Rescue workers at another mine in Henan province in June after a blast killed 46 people. AP Photo
Gas Explosion

20 dead and 17 trapped in Chinese coal mine

Gas explosion leaves 20 dead and rescuers searching for trapped miners.

A GAS EXPLOSION in a Chinese coal mine has killed 20 workers and also possibly trapped a further 17 underground in central Henan province, Xinhua reports.

The state work safety administration said that it wasn’t clear yet how far underground the 17 miners could be trapped. The gas burst at around 6am local time and by 1pm 20 bodies had been recovered and the search for more miners was continuing.

2600 people died in Chinese mines last year- making the industry the most dangerous in the world. Over 30 miners were working down the mine when the gas burst happened, according to owners Pingyu Coal & Electric Co. Ltd.

Henan province has a history of mining disasters- after one of the deadliest mine explosions in history left 148 people dead in 2004.