29 trapped in east China coal mine blast

Twenty-nine people were trapped after a blast occurred in a coal mine in east China's Anhui province early Tuesday, rescuers said.

The accident occurred at 3:58 am in the Dongfang coal mine in Xiejiaji District of Huainan city, when 39 miners were in the underground shaft, said the rescue headquarters.

Ten workers were lifted out of the mine after the blast. One of them was injured and sent to a hospital. Twenty-nine others were trapped.

The licensed mine is privately owned and has an annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes.

The Huainan municipal government ordered all coal mines to suspend production on June 30 and July 1 due to the flood season. But the mine did not obey the order.

Rescue work is under way and the cause of the accident is being investigated.