China mine explosion kills 21

Twenty-one miners have died in a coal mine explosion in south-western China, the government said today.

Initial reports said only one miner had died and 15 were missing after last Thursday’s blast at a small mine in Panzhihua, an iron and steel industrial base in Sichuan province.

However, rescuers have found another 20 bodies.

Ten miners who survived the explosion were hospitalised.

It said a preliminary investigation found the blast was caused by “violation of production procedures and poor management”.

No other details were given.