13 killed in gas blast in coal mine in China

Beijing: Thirteen people were killed in a coal mine gas blast in China`s Chongqing Municipality, local
authorities said Wednesday.

The accident took place at Fufa Coal Mine in Dashu
Township of Fengjie County on Monday, when 16 miners were
working underground, the Chongqing municipal government said
in a statement.

Three miners were rescued.

Nine were killed instantly and four others were later
found dead, the statement said.

Rescuers retrieved the bodies of four miners after two
days of searching, bringing the death toll to 13, it said.
Six people in connection with the accident have been
detained by police, it said.

The Fufa Coal Mine began operation in September 2008 with
an annual output capacity of 40,000 tonnes, Xinhua reported.

PTI