An explosion killed at least 21 people at a
coal mine in the northern Chinese city of Datong, state media said Sunday.
The explosion trapped the miners underground on Saturday at the
state-run Wujiu Coal Mine in Datong's southern district, the semi- official
China News Service said.
Seven miners escaped after the blast and rescuers pulled out four others alive,
the agency said.
A preliminary investigation suggested that either a build-up of gas or
spontaneous ignition of coal dust caused the explosion, other reports said.
The mine was fully licensed to produce up to 150,000 tons of coal annually, the
agency said.
Datong is one of China's biggest coal production centres, and notorious for its
black streets and air pollution.
Accidents kill an estimated 10,000 people annually in Chinese mines. The accidents are often triggered by outdated equipment and poor
safety measures, with many occurring at illegal mines, dpa
reported.
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