9 killed in gas explosion at Chinese coal mine

BEIJING – A gas explosion at a mine in central China has killed nine workers.

The accident happened Saturday afternoon at a mine in Hunan province’s Sandu township.

A Hunan work safety official, surnamed Zhang, said all nine workers underground at the time were confirmed dead.

The cause of the explosion, he said, is being investigated. He said the mine is privately run.

China’s coal mines are the deadliest in the world. Their safety record has improved in recent years as smaller, illegal mines have been closed.