It is reported that an explosion at a coal mine in south west China has killed nine workers and left one missing, less than a week after a mine blast at the other end of the country killed at least 107.

Official Xinhua News Agency reported that a total of 172 miners were working in Guizhou Zhenxing mine at the time of the explosion. All but 10 escaped, three of them with injuries from flying debris.

As per report, the accident cause was not given, although such explosions usually result from a failure to ventilate coal gas that builds up deep in the pit.

Investigators looking into the other blast, on Saturday outside the north eastern city of Hegang the country deadliest in two years have blamed crowded conditions, insufficient ventilation and slow rescue efforts for the high death toll.

China coal industry remains the world's deadliest, despite repeated efforts to close the most dangerous mines and boost safety at large scale operations.


(Sourced from UKPA)