A coal mine gas explosion killed nine workers in northwest
China's Shaanxi Province on Saturday, the local government
reported.
The accident happened in Xiayukou Colliery of Hancheng City at
12:28 when 12 miners were working in an underground shaft.
Five made their way to the ground, but two died later. In the
afternoon, rescuers found the bodies of seven others in the
shaft.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2008)