A gas explosion on Wednesday in a Henan Province coal mine left 10 miners dead and injured 10 others, a source in Zhengzhou said.
The explosion occurred around 9am at Qiaoyan Coal Mine of Chengguan Township, Yiyang County, when 24 miners were underground. Nine miners were killed on the spot. Another who escaped the scene of the accident, eventually succumbed to injuries in a local hospital, according to Zhang Huimin, deputy head of the Yiyang County Government who is in charge of safety affairs.
An earlier report said the tragedy claimed seven miners and injured eight others.
Local officials said only six people, including two emergency workers, escaped unhurt. All those killed were farmers who worked as temporary miners at the coal mine. The injured are still undergoing medical treatment in four hospitals.
Local authorities said the privately owned mine was operating against the county's temporary ban on coal production.
Chui genzhu, the legal person of the coal mine, has gone into hiding after the accident.
(Xinhua)