92 dead in China mine explosion

At least 92 people died and 16 are still missing after an underground explosion at a Chinese coal mine.

At least 92 people died and 16 are still missing after an underground explosion at a Chinese coal mine.

A total of 528 people were working in the Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang province at the time of the explosion, the State Administration of Work Safety said in a statement. It said 389 escaped after the blast.

Authorities said the 16 miners still missing are trapped about a third of a mile underground.

The mine is located near the border with Russia, about 250 miles northeast of the provincial capital, Harbin.

It is run by one of China's top 520 state-owned enterprises, according to the website of its owner, the Hegang branch of the Heilongjiang Longmei Holding Mining Group. It said the Hegang branch has more than 88,000 employees.

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