(Photo captured from CCTV video)
Nineteen miners were still trapped in a coal mine explosion, as rescue operation was underway in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province, state media reported on Thursday (December 17).
The state broadcaster CCTV showed thick smoke coming out from the mine and fire engines parked in line to join the rescue work.
As of 09:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Thursday, the fire was still burning, blocking rescuers from approaching the trapped miners.
The blast happened at about 2:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) on Wednesday (December 16) in Hegang city, when 52 miners were working underground, CCTV said.
Thirty-three of the miners managed to escape after the accident, it added.
Rescue work was still underway.
Although the toll from accidents has fallen, China’s coal mines are the deadliest in the world because of poor safety and the rush to feed energy demand from the world’s second-largest economy. (CCTV)