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A powerful gas explosion rocked a local state-owned coal mine in Shanxi Province, north China, at 16:20 pm on Wednesday, leaving forty-four miners trapped underground.
A total of 52 miners were working underground at the Zhujiadian Coal Mine, Zhongyang County, Luliang Prefecture, when the explosion took place, according to provincial authorities.
Intensive rescue efforts have been underway. While eight miners have been rescued by press time, the fate of the remaining 44 is still unclear.
Provincial and prefectural government officials were on the scene Wednesday night, and officials from the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision were on their way.
(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2002)
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