IN BRIEF (Page 4)

HENAN

12 people killed in gas outburst

The death toll from a gas outburst at a mine in Dengfeng city on Wednesday has risen to 12, local authorities said on Friday. The accident happened around 5 pm on Wednesday when workers were expanding a pipeway at Xingyu Colliery in Xuzhuang township, causing the gas outburst. Thirty-nine of the 51 people underground at the time of the accident managed to escape. An initial investigation indicates that the accident was triggered by human error. The colliery, built in 1975, is licensed and has an approved annual capacity of 330,000 metric tons.