China: Explosion at coal mine kills 20, traps 17

Beijing, Oct 16: An explosion in Chinese coal mine killed 20 workers and 17 were trapped in a central China on Saturday, Oct 15, a national work safety official said.

As per Xinhua reports 30 miners were trapped after the explosion in Henan province and the rescue operation was under way.

The blast comes after China announced that it has closed 1,355 small coal mines in 2010.

Further reports said the effort was part of a large plan to restructure the mining industry to prevent deadly accidents and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, citing the National Energy Administration (NEA)

China has one of the world's deadliest records for miners, with poor safety standards accounting for thousands of deaths each year.

This blast comes shortly after the world was centred by Chile's dramatic rescue of 33 trapped miners after they spent more than two months underground.

OneIndia News