Five people were killed and one was injured in a coal mine explosion in north China's Shanxi Province on Wednesday, a local government spokesman has confirmed.

The accident happened at about 6:50 p.m. at the mine in Yuxian County, Yangquan City, when 30 people were working underground, said a spokesman of the city government.

The spokesman said 26 workers escaped from the pit, two of whom were injured. One of them died later in a hospital.

Rescuers rushed to the scene, but confirmed that the four trapped had been killed.

Rescue operations ended early on Thursday and an investigation began.

The mine, owned by Wanlong Mining Co. Ltd., was fully registered with a designed output of 150,000 tons annually.

All coal mines in Yuxian were ordered to suspend operation after the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)