13 workers killed in coal mine blast in China

Thirteen people were killed in a coal mine gas explosion in southwest China early morning today.

The accident took place in a pit of Hongtutian Coal Mine in Yunnan Province, the local government said in a statement.

A total of 56 people were working in the pit, of whom 42 escaped without injuries and 14 were trapped, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

So far rescuers had retrieved 13 dead bodies and were searching all-out for the missing miner. The local government said Hongtutian is a private mine and is properly licensed for operation.