At least 23 people were killed when a gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in the northern province of Shanxi, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.
More than 60 workers were in the mine in the city of Datong and so far about 33 have been rescued.
Xinhua said the owner and operator of the mine both fled after Thursay's blast.
Last year, 5,300 deaths were officially reported and the official toll this year is already around 3,000.
(Xinhua News Agency 09/15/2001)
