Mine rescuers beaten back by flames

Rescuers looking for 45 coal miners missing after an underground explosion in north east China were digging through tons of rubble today.

Rescue efforts were hampered by a fire ignited by the gas explosion early on Tuesday at the Lanshan No. 1 Coal Mine in Heilongjiang province.

Rescuers had reached a platform 925 feet below ground, but were still trying to put out flames that kept them from reaching the miners.

Chinese coal mines are the world’s deadliest, with thousands of fatalities each year in fires, cave-ins and explosions, often blamed on inadequate ventilation and safety equipment.

More than 4,800 deaths were reported last year and in the past four months, coal mine accidents caused more than 900 deaths.