Beijing, July 04: At least 39 miners were feared dead after a gas blast in a coal pit in the Songshu town of China's northeastern province of Jilin early today. The miners were trapped and chances of their survival were slim, state news agency Xinhua said quoting mine safety officials. The blast occurred at around 0200 hrs local time at the Fuqiang coal mine. Rescue work was going on at the scene of the accident and further details were awaited.
It was not immediately clear whether the accident was related to floods or the miners had tapped into underground water.
China has the world's biggest and deadliest mining industry and accidents are common in the country.
Today's explosion is the second such disaster in a period of two weeks. At least 115 coal miners were killed in a gas explosion in the Heilongjiang province on June 20.

On June 22, 40 gold miners were killed when an electrical fire set off several tonnes of explosives in Shanxi province.

Bureau Report