China coal mine blast kills 16

At least 16 miners were killed, six injured and 11 left missing when an underground blast ripped through a coal mine in China's largest coal producing province of Shanxi in the northern region, rescuers confirmed Thursday.

A gas explosion took place at a coal mine in Xiangyuangou of Lingdi Town, when 83 miners were working underground, said Director of the Shanxi Provincial Bureau for Workplace Safety, Gong Anku.

The blast ripped through the Xiangyuangou No 2 mine and badly damaged the ceiling of the shaft.

Rescuers have saved six injured miners but 11 were still missing in the accident which occurred in Jiaocheng county, officials from the Shanxi Provincial Bureau for Workplace Safety said.

"Rescuers are working as hard as they can to dig-out the tunnel, but progress has been low," said an official.

The mine belonged to the local government and produced about 6,00,000 tons of coal each year. Fifty miners escaped but 33 were still trapped underground.

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