Explosion leaves 12 miners missing

At least 12 miners were missing today after an explosion in central China, as authorities continued their efforts to reach 181 workers who have been trapped in flooded coal shafts for two weeks, state media said.

The blast at the Shunli Coal Mine in Henan province occurred as miners were repairing a coal shaft, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing an initial investigation.

Rescuers were struggling to get into the pit after clearing the entrance.

The mine in Pingdingshan city’s Baofeng County was operating legally and had been under renovation this year to comply with a government order to improve safety, Xinhua said.