A coal mine explosion Friday in Yakeshi city of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region claimed 22 lives and injured six.

The accident happened around 8:30 a.m., trapping 43 miners.

Rescue work was carried out immediately and about three hours later, all the miners were found, with 15 escaping uninjured.

The state-run coal mine, also named Yakeshi, is located 29 kilometers south of Yakeshi city and was founded in 1985.

On hearing of the explosion, local government officials rushed to the scene to conduct rescue work.

An investigation is still underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2003)