At least six people were killed and another injured in a coal mine blast in southwest China, local authorities said today.
The blast occurred in Hongxing Coal Mine in Pu'an county in Guizhou Province last night. An investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.
The injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The Hongxing Coal Mine produces 300,000 tonnes of coal annually.
China's coal mines are considered some of the deadliest in the world and the deaths and injuries resulting from blasts are often blamed on lax safety standards.
Earlier this month, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for better enforcement of work safety regulations after a tragic pipeline blast in Shandong province which left 62 people dead.
"Production safety is a life-and-death matter and a red line that must not be crossed," Li said.
