Up to 17 miners trapped after a coal mine gas blast in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been confirmed dead, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Monday, citing the rescue headquarters.
The explosion happened Saturday evening when 20 people were working inside the pit, which is 120 km from the regional capital of Urumqi, according to a statement from the headquarters.
Three of the miners were rescued while the others were trapped underground, it said. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
China has the world's largest and deadliest mining industry. Last year, 1,049 miners died in 589 coal mine accidents in the nation, which means the accidents killed almost three people per day, according to the work safety administration.
In the US and other developed countries, the annual death toll in coal mines is generally no higher than 40.