Thirty-three coal miners in the Chongqing region of western China were trapped and two were rescued after a gas explosion Monday, government officials said.
Fifteen miners have been reported dead following the explosion that occurred shortly before noon Chinese time. Rescue efforts are ongoing for the 18 miners still unaccounted for, according to state-run news agency Xinhua, CNN reported.
The explosion took place at the Jinshangou Coal Mine in Laisu, which is in the Yongchuan district of Chongqing. The mine is privately owned, Xinhua reported.
More than 200 firefighters, police and other rescue personnel are at the site, trying to save the trapped miners. The mine safety inspection bureau has shut down all mines in Chongqing until safety inspections can be completed, CNN reported.
It is common for explosions to occur when a flame or electrical spark is exposed to gas leaking from the coal seam, which then ignites. Mines are supposed to have ventilation systems to prevent the gas from getting trapped. The cause of this explosion is still under investigation, The Associated Press reported.
China is the largest producer and user of coal in the world, and has had issues with safety in the past. Plans are underway to shut down more than 1,000 outdated mines that might pose a hazard for workers, and other safety improvements have reduced the number of injuries and deaths in recent years.
In March, a gas leak killed 12 miners in the northeastern province of Jilin, and in January, four miners were trapped underground for 36 days and at least one miner died in another accident.
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