Coal Mine Explosion Kills At Least 42 In China

Harbin, China (AHN) – Rescuers in China’s Heilongjiang Province are searching for survivors after a gas explosion in a coal mine struck while workers were deep underground.

Authorities at the Xinxing Coal Mine in Hegang City confirm at least 42 miners are dead and believe another 66 are missing. Another 29 miners are at a local hospital with a variety of injuries, including six seriously wounded workers.

The accident occurred at about 2:30 am on Saturday, local time. The Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group, which owns the Xinxing Mine, says there were 528 miners working on the site at the time of the accident.

(Image: Chinese State Media)