Explosion at coal mine in Guizhou kills 15
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-21 22:34

An explosion at a coal mine in southern China killed 15 miners and injured three, reported the Xinhua news agency Monday.

The explosion occurred Sunday at the Zhongxing Colliery in Guizhou province's Qinglong County, the Xinhua News Agency said.

Eight of the 41 miners working underground at the time of the explosion were killed instantly, Xinhua said. Seven others were trapped in the shaft and were presumed dead 20 hours after the blast, it said.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.

The government says it has close hundreds of unsafe mines and punished mine owners who put profits ahead of lives.