Seven killed in coal gas outburst accident

JIAOZUO, Henan - Seven coal miners have been confirmed dead and 11 others are still missing after a sudden release of pressurized gas sent tons of coal flying and blocked the mine shaft in Jiaozuo of Central China's Henan province, the local safety watchdog said on Thursday.

The sudden release of gas - called an outburst - occurred at 12:36 am on Thursday at Jiulishan Coal Mine when 18 miners were working underground. The 18 workers entered the pit just half an hour before the accident, according to the local government publicity office.

Rescuers had found the bodies of seven miners as of Thursday night and the location of the 11 missing workers cannot be determined, Zhang Feng, chief engineer of the rescue team, told China Daily.