A coal miner after a day's work in China. At least 166 miners have been trapped underground after a mine blast exploded in central China. Photo by AFP
At least 166 miners have been trapped underground after a mine blast exploded in central China. The accident, which threatens to be the worst disaster to hit the world's biggest coal producer in recent years, occurred early on Sunday at the state-owned Chenjiashan coal mine in Shaanxi province. A total of 293 miners were in the Chenjiashan coal mine in Tongchuan city at 7:10 am when the blast occurred. Some 123 escaped or were rescued soon after and four more were hauled out alive 10 hours later. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. Xinhua news agency reported that communications with those trapped has been lost.