12 killed in coal mine gas eruption in China

Beijing: At least 12 people have been killed when a gas outburst occurred at a coal mine in northeast China's Jilin Province, state media reported on Monday.

The accident took place in Baishan city's Songshu Mine yesterday when over 700 miners were underground. Nearly 692 miners managed to escape but 13 got trapped and 12 of whom later died. One person was injured who was rushed to a nearby hospital where his condition was said to be stable, rescuers said.

A total of 316 rescuers, aided with 46 medical workers, carried out the rescue operation which ended this morning, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Songshu Mine is owned by Tonghua Mining Industry Company Limited.