Report: 73 bodies found after Chinese mine blast

Rescuers have found 73 bodies in a coal mine wrecked by an explosion in eastern China.

The state Xinhua News Agency said dozens of other miners are believed to be dead in the mine in Xuzhou, a city in Jiangsu province.

The explosion on Sunday morning trapped 105 miners underground. According to local officials, 13 were rescued and the rest are missing.

The mine was closed in June for lack of safety equipment but illegally reopened this month. Its owner has been detained by police.

Authorities ordered dozens of small coal mines in Jiangsu closed this week in an attempt to prevent similar disasters at poorly-equipped pits.