8 People killed in coal mine collapse, 45 trapped

At least eight miners died and 45 were trapped in an accident at a coal mine in central China, state Xinhua news agency quoting rescue officials said here Saturday. A shaft collapsed Thursday evening in the Qianqiu Coal Mine in the city of Sanmenxia when 75 miners were working inside. Rescuers helped 22 workers escape the shaft after the rock burst. Earlier Friday, four people were killed and 60 others remain trapped underground after an explosion to occur in a coal mine in China''s central province of Henan. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that 75 people were working in the mine in Sanmenxia City when an explosion occurred beneath the rocky surface, which was a small earthquake.