22 coal mine workers struck after coal mine accident in China

At least 22 workers are trapped in a coal mine in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang Province, the latest accident to hit the country’s mining industry.

The accident took place around 9:00 pm on Tuesday in Qitaihe city and 22 workers are trapped in the mine, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescue operations are underway and the cause of the mishap is being investigated, it said.

China’s mining industry has long been among the world’s deadliest with frequent mine accidents.

China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal.

An explosion at a mine in the southwestern region of Chongqing on October 31 killed 33 people, just weeks after a gas explosion in another mine in Guizhou province killed seven people.