Nine people were killed in a mining accident in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region yesterday evening.

Forty-two others were injured and two people were missing as of late last night after the blast occurred while Guangdong Hongda Blasting Co Ltd was using explosives at 6:15 pm at Dafeng Coal Mine, according to Xinhuanet.com.

Authorities are still investigating to find out what went wrong, the report said.

Qi Tongsheng, vice chairman of the Ningxia government, arrived at the site to coordinate rescue efforts.

Guangdong Hongda has first-class qualifications in blasting and demolition work and second-class qualifications in earthwork and stonework. The qualifications were issued by the Ministry of Construction, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)