Beijing, Nov 24: At least 15 miners were killed and nine others were missing in coal mine gas explosions in central China's Henan province and northwest China's Xinjiang, the state media reported today. The explosion took place on Saturday in Sundian coal mine in Xiaotun town of Ruzhou city when 57 miners were working underground, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the rescue command office. The cause of the explosion in the private coal mine was still unknown. However, five people in-charge of safety and maintenance have been held by local police for further investigation as rescue work are still under way by press time, local sources said.
Xinhua reported yesterday that one miner was killed and six others were injured in another mine blast in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region which occurred on November 19.
The remaining injured miners were in stable condition, Xinhua reported from Urumqi, the regional capital.
Thousands of miners die each year in China's coal mines, which authorities blame on lax safety standards. Bureau Report