A gas explosion in a mine shaft at a coal mine in northern China has trapped 29 miners, AP quoted a state news as saying Thursday. The mine blast occurred late Wednesday in a shaft at Yaotou mine in central Shaanxi province, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Emergency workers launched a rescue effort immediately after the blast, Xinhua said. China's coal mines are the world's deadliest, with numerous fires, floods and other disasters killing an average of 13 miners a day. Many accidents occur in small mines with low safety standards or in mines operated illegally. Accident cover-ups also are common. The head of China's workplace safety agency said officials underreported casualties in nine major accidents in the first quarter of 2007. China is the largest producer and consumer of coal, which has fueled its economic boom and accounts for 70 percent of its energy consumption.
