29 workers trapped after blast coal mine blast in China

BEIJING: Twenty-nine workers were trapped in a coal mine in China's eastern Anhui Province following a gas explosion today.

The accident took place in the early hours at Xiejiaji District of Huainan City, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Ten workers were lifted out of the mine after the blast. One of them was injured and sent to a hospital. Twenty-nine others were trapped. The licensed mine is privately owned and has an annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes.

The Huainan municipal government ordered all coal mines to suspend production on June 30 and July 1 due to the flood season. But the mine did not obey the order.

Rescue work is under way and the cause of the accident is being investigated, the report said.