22 die, 60 missing in China mine blast

FUKANG, China, Jul 11, 2005 -- United Press International

At least 22 miners died and 60 others were missing after a gas explosion early Monday at a coal mine in China's northwestern Xinjiang autonomous region.

A total of 87 people were working in the Shenlong Coal Mine in Fukang city when the explosion occurred at 2:30 a.m., according to the Web site of the State Administration for Work Safety.

Five miners have been rescued, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

China's mines are considered the world's deadliest. Official figures show that more than 6,000 miners died in accidents in China last year.

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