A GAS EXPLOSION IN AN ILLEGAL CHINESE COAL MINE HAS KILLED EIGHT MINERS AND LEFT AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER MISSING, OFFICIALS AND STATE MEDIA SAID WEDNESDAY, AS RESCUERS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO DRAIN ANOTHER FLOODED MINE WHERE AT LEAST 57 MEN ARE TRAPPED AND FEARED DEAD. THE BLAST IN THE VILLAGE OF SIYUANGOU IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF HENAN STRUCK MONDAY NIGHT, JUST HOURS AFTER THE MINE HAD SECRETLY REOPENED AFTER BEING SHUT IN A GOVERNMENT SAFETY CRACKDOWN, SAID A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL CONTACTED BY PHONE TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
