At least 29 miners were killed in a Chinese coal mine after a gas explosion on Tuesday, state media reported, in the latest accident to plague the nation's notoriously dangerous mining industry.
The explosion occurred at the Weijiadi coal mine in the north-western province of Gansu when 71 miners were working underground, Xinhua news agency reported.
At least 19 people were also injured, it said.
A ventilation system was being checked when the blast occurred, general manager Wang Jun was quoted as saying.
Workers above ground realised an accident had happened when gas monitoring and communication systems suddenly blacked out. They immediately started emergency procedures, Wang said.
China's coal mines are regarded as the most dangerous in the world with almost 6,000 workers dying in the industry last year -- a rate of about 16 fatalities each day -- according to official figures.
Labour rights groups say the real number of mining deaths could be as high as 20,000 each year, with the official tally lower because local government officials and mine owners often cover up accidents.