Authorities said on Nov. 19 that a gas explosion at a coal mine in china has killed 15 miners, another nine miners were injured.
The blast occurred at a mine in the Shanxi province in northern China on Monday. Rescue work was halted early Tuesday morning after everyone was accounted for.
The Shanxi provincial work safety administration said 11 miners escaped without injury. The cause of the explosion is being investigated.
While relatively small in scale, the mine had been cited last year for failing to provide adequate training for workers.
Gas explosions in mines usually occur when volatile methane, also known as coal gas, is not properly ventilated after leaking from the seam. At a high concentration, the gas can be ignited by a simple spark, open flame or electrical equipment, setting off second explosions of coal dust in the air.
At a high concentration, the coal gas can be ignited by a simple spark, open flame or electrical equipment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
