Four killed in explosion at coal mine in China

At least four persons have been killed after a gas explosion at a coal mine in central China's Hunan Province, officials said.

The explosion at about 3 pm (local time) on Saturday in Shaodong County coal mine instantly trapped five miners.

Three persons - two confirmed dead and one with serious injuries -were hoisted from the mine by evening, state-run Xinhua newsagency reported. The remaining two victims were found dead, local authorities said.