BEIJING — State media said at least 46 miners were killed when an explosion ripped through a coal mine in the central Chinese province of Henan.
The State Administration of Work Safety said the blast early today hit a mine in Pingdingshan city in the province.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported 72 miners were trapped initially but 26 escaped. State broadcaster CCTV reported on its website that many of the deaths were caused by carbon-monoxide poisoning.
The report said an investigation is under way into the cause of the explosion.
Accidents and blasts killed more than 2,600 coal miners last year.
Front Section, Pages 5 on 06/21/2010