Gas explosions at coal mines in China kill 17 people, trap 6

Mine explosions kill 17 in China, 6 more trapped

BEIJING — A coal mine explosion has killed 12 people in northern China, while five other miners were killed and six trapped in an accident in the southwest of the country, state media reported Monday.

The official Xinhua News Agency said 12 miners were killed in Shanxi province when a pocket of gas was ignited. Four others survived.

Xinhua said another five were killed and six trapped underground at a coal mine in Yunan province also as a result of a gas explosion.

China’s mining industry is the world’s deadliest with most accidents blamed on poor safety as enterprises scramble to feed the country’s insatiable demand for coal. Last month 108 miners were killed in a coal mine blast in northeast China. It was the country’s deadliest mining accident in two years.