Three people were killed, and five others injured in an underground explosion at a coal chemical factory in northwest China, local officials said Wednesday.

The accident occurred at about 11:12 p.m. Tuesday in the western suburbs of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at a coal chemical factory belonging to the 12th Agriculture Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Three people died during the rescue efforts, and five others were slightly injured and in stable condition, said officials from the safety supervision bureau of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

An initial investigation showed the explosion was caused by a shock wave from an underground cave-in. Further investigation is being carried out.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2009)