Eleven coal miners were killed, 12 injured and 40 still trapped in a gas explosion on November 25 at a coal mine run by the Dayan Coal Company of the Hulun Buir League of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
It is unknown at the time of press whether the trapped miners are alive.
The explosion occurred at 2:20 pm on November 25 when more than 300 miners were working at the mine, according to Bao Yunxun, leader of the company. By 4:00 pm of the same day, over 260 miners had been evacuated from the spot.
An underground gas explosion is regarded as the primary cause of the accident.
Major leaders from the Ministry of Coal Industry, the autonomous regional government and the league went to the site of the accident.
The rescue operation was in progress at the time of press.
(Xinhua 11/28/2000)
