Gas explosion kills 11 Chinese miners

BEIJING, Oct 26: A gas explosion has killed 11 miners at a coal mine in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin, the official Xinhua news agency said today.

The blast happened in the early hours morning today at the Xinyu mine near Baishan city, trapping the 11 who were working underground, it said.

Rescuers found their bodies five hours later, Xinhua added.

China is struggling to meet booming demand for coal, which fuels about 70 per cent of its energy consumption.

In the rush for profits, safety regulations are often ignored, production is pushed beyond limits and dangerous mines that have been shut down are reopened illegally.

Last year, 3,300 coal mine blasts, floods and other accidents killed nearly 6,000 people, according to official figures.

REUTERS