15 killed in north China mine blast

BEIJING: A coal mine explosion killed 15 people in north China’s Shanxi province, state media reported on Tuesday.

Nine other people were injured by the gas explosion on Monday afternoon, which took place in a mine owned by Shanxi Pingyao Fengyan Coal & Coke Group Co, according to official news agency Xinhua.

Xinhua reported that 35 miners were working underground when the blast happened, but 11 miners were able to escape.

The injured miners were in a stable condition, Xinhua said. Shen Xuping, an official at the Shanxi Administration of Coal Mine Safety, said on Tuesday that the accident revealed a "lack of awareness of the rule of law and chaotic management" by the company involved, local media reported.

Shen said the accident was caused by activity that "broke the law and regulations," although authorities are still investigating the exact cause. Deadly mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record.