At least 27 killed in Chinese mine blasts

At least 27 people have died in two explosions at a coal mine in the northern Chinese province of Hebei.

19 workers died in the first explosion on Saturday and a further eight died yesterday when a second blast ripped through the mine while rescuers were searching for victims.

One member of the rescue team is still missing.

China’s mines are among the deadliest in the world, with more than 5,000 workers losing their lives annually in cave-ins, floods and explosions caused by poor ventilation and coal gas.