News / China

Coal mine blast kills 4 in southern China, another 9 missing

Tuesday, 07 August 2018 6:02 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 07 August 2018 6:05 AM ]

This November 20, 2015 file photo shows workers sorting coal on a conveyer belt near a coal mine in Datong, in China's northern Shanxi Province. (By AFP)

Four workers have been killed and nine have gone missing after an explosion at a small coal mine in China’s Guizhou Province.

The incident happened at the Zimujia coal mine, run by the private-owned Pannan Coal Investment Co, in Panzhou City on Monday night, state-owned Xinhua News reported on Tuesday, citing local authorities.

The cause of the explosion was unclear, while rescue work was underway.

The accident comes not long after a blast at an iron ore mining project in Liaoning, which killed 11 people in June.

According to Guizhou Energy Administration file, the coal mine was ordered to rectify on some safety issues during a safety inspection conducted by local authorities in late April.

Benchmark thermal coal futures soared as much as 5.5 percent to 622 yuan ($90.80) a tonne, their highest in 11 months, during early trade on Tuesday, as market expects more stringent inspections on coal mines across the country might lead to tight supply.

(Source: Reuters)

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