Two coal miners died and 12 others were still trapped underground last night after a gas explosion ripped through a mine in Baicheng County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Eleven people escaped the blast which went off at 10:45am yesterday.
Two were injured and sent to hospital for treatment.
Survival chances of the trapped workers were still unclear last night.
Senior Baicheng government officials went to the site to direct rescue efforts.
It was the second gas explosion in a coal mine this week, following a similar accident in central China's Henan Province on Monday that killed 34 miners.
That blast took place at the No. 2 Coal Mine of the Hebi Coal Industry (Group) Corporation Ltd in Hebi City of Henan.
Nineteen miners were rescued.
Zhang Guohui, vice director of the Henan Provincial Coal Industry Bureau, said almost all the victims were locals and the injured were in stable condition.
The State Administration of Production Safety Supervision said yesterday the Hebi Coal Group has been ordered to stop operation of all its mines for improvement.
The administration suggested closing the No. 2 Mine after a preliminary investigation showed "serious loopholes and problems with the ventilation and production management."
A special team has been set up to handle compensation to the Hebi victims' families.
Families of victims who had work injury insurance can claim about 75,000 yuan (US$9,260) compensation, and those who had accidental injury insurance can get an additional 30,000 yuan.
The families will also receive a monthly benefit in the next 10 years.
Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders yesterday urged industry to stress workplace safety after Monday's Hebi explosion.
(Xinhua/Shanghai Daily)