Gas Spill Kills 24 in Central China Coal Mine

Gas spill kills 24 in central China coal mine

ZHENGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) — Twenty-four miners were choked to death and two others were still missing when gas spilled out of a pit in central China’s Henan Province Tuesday night, coal mine safety officials said Wednesday.

Forty-three people were working down the Xingfa Coal Mine in Wenshu township in the city of Yuzhou when the accident occurred at around 10:30 p.m., said a spokesman with the provincial administration of coal mine safety.

He said 17 miners managed to escape, 24 were confirmed dead and two were still missing.

Vice Governor Shi Jichun is at the site to oversee the rescue work.