23 rescued, 11 dead in China mine blast

Twenty-three workers have been rescued out of an iron-ore mine in China's northeast Liaoning Province, which claimed eleven lives and wounded nine others, the officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The explosion killed 11 people, injured nine others above-ground, and destroyed the hoisting system in the mine, while trapping 25 miners underground, reported China's state-run news agency Xinhua.

The workers, who were rescued in two separate batches, remained trapped underground for few hours.

According to the report, the first batch of six miners was lifted out of the shaft at around 5:20 a.m., and another 17 were lifted as of 7:25 a.m. on Wednesday. The rescued miners are in "good condition."

A total of 25 workers were trapped, out of which two are missing for whom the search work is underway.

Five, of the nine who were injured, suffered heavy injuries and are being treated to in hospital.

Deadly mining accidents are usual in China, where the industry has a poor safety record.