At least three miners were killed and many others injured in an accident at a coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province on Sunday morning, said a provincial work safety official.

The accident happened at about 6:51 a.m. at Shenzhou Mining Co., Ltd. in Luliang City when the rope of a cable car, carrying miners who were returning to the ground, suddenly broke, said one of the injured workers.

The injured miners were sent to the Luliang People's Hospital, where an unnamed doctor said more than 20 miners have been hospitalized since 8 a.m. Sunday.

The injured suffered mostly from fractures, the doctor said.

An injured miner told Xinhua there were as many as 40 injuries.

Official investigation is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2008)